ASSIGNMENT #1 Exploring Plotting Choices on the Reanalysis Website  

Here's the recap for the assignment & your class presentations due Tuesday Feb 3rd:

(a) Using the key date(s) of April 29/30, 1989 as a starting point (from the ASSIGNMENT 1 handout given in class), explore various plotting choices on the Reanalysis Website using the variable assigned to you .  (NOTE:  in PARENTHESES are suggestions on what you might want to present in your class presentation with respect to the "heart" circulation feature -- you don't have to follow the suggestion if you have a better plan!)

Heidi:    air temperature (provide short explanation on how air temperature and the circulation feature relate)
Tom:      winds (provide a short explanation on u,v, and vector winds and their meaning in the context of the feature)
Ela:        precipitation/precipitation rate (and other moisture variables if you like -- provide a short explanation on how precipitation and the circulation feature are linked -- if at  all)
Jenna:    geopotential height (e.g.,at other levels, at other times, averaged over other time periods, etc., provide a short explanation on how "deep" the feature is in the atmosphere)
Jen:        Lifted Index (provide a short explanation to the rest of the class about what the LI is and why it is used -- plus how it is related to the feature)|
Scott:      Runoff and soil moisture (provide a short explanation of how they might relate to the circulation feature and whether or not they do!)
Jesse:      flux variables (e.g. LW and SW) (provide a short explanation to the rest of the class about what the flux variables can tell us -- e.g. OLR as  a surrogate for high/clouds and precip in some areas - and how they relate to the circulation feature)

Tim, Mike, Kevin -- you are invited to explore the plotting choices as well.

 

(b)  After your exploration and mapping, select several good maps that illustrate neat and creative ways to plot data that also shed light on the interesting meteorology associated with the April 29/30 blocking omega (& heart-shaped) upper level HIGH over the NW:

(c)  Paste your maps, etc. in a Word Document, add a paragraph or two of explanation about:  (1)  what you did, (2) what your maps show that is important or interesting, and (3) what useful and interesting things you learned about both (a) using the Reanalysis and (b) about the events of April 29/30, 1989 by doing the activity.

(d)  Name your document according to the convention indicated on the SSH handout and deposit it in the Assignment #1 folder under the course "synoptic"  

 IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING INTO SSH, just email me your document, or bring it along to class on a CD, "jump drive" or "memory stick"

NOTE:   This will be a GRADED assignment -- you'll get feedback and a letter grade based on:  content, effort, creativity, and illustration of good "synoptic sense"