Synoptic Sense

Week	Date	Topic	Readings: (to be prepared for the date listed)	Hands-On Assignment: (to be prepared for the date listed)
1	Tue Jan 20	Introduction & Overview	------	------
1	Thu Jan 22	Links provided by class for Hands-On Assignment (2) Some Synoptic Principles (only got started on this!)	(1) Review basic synoptic meteorology & climatology from an introductory weather or climate text (e.g. Ahrens, Aguado & Burt, etc.) (2) As an introduction to the Reanalysis, read the handouts: Excerpt from The NCEP/NCAR 40-Year Reanalysis Project (1996) by E. Kalnay and others (Abstract & Appendices only) & an Overview of the Reanalysis Project Dataset (pdf) & Introduction to Using the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Dataset (pdf)	(1) If you are unfamiliar with the Reanalysis webpage, follow the directions on the "Introduction to Using the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Dataset" handout and crunch out a few maps, trying different variables, formats, and parts of the world. (2) Browse your assigned section of the Climate & Weather Data Links site and come to class with 3 interesting maps, charts, and/or pieces of information you discovered through browsing the sites in your assigned section. (3) If you have time, also browse the Other Useful Tools site and note any tools there that you think others in the class might want to know about.
2	Tue Jan 27	Some Synoptic Principles (web ppt) The NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Project (the original 40-year reanalysis)	Read the original Kalnay et al 1996 paper: NCEP 1996 PDF file Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 77:437-471. NOTE: You can also view the full paper in webpage format at the Reanalysis Project site. Also read: Updates (corrections) to the 1996 BAMS paper -- a webpage	(4) Read the 1996 paper for today and come to class with a list of terms or items that need more clarification. We'll list and address these in class.
2	Thu Jan 29	The 50-Year Reanalysis Data & Variables in the Reanalysis - class links	Read the follow-up paper: The NCEP-NCAR 50-Year Reanalysis: Monthly Means CD-Rom and Documentation (2001) by R. Kistler and others. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 82: 247-267.	(5) Read the 2001 paper (for Thursday) and note what is new/different from the 1996 paper.
3	Tue Feb 3	Using the Reanalysis: Advantages, Cautions & Pitfalls	Read the Reanalysis 2 paper: NCEP-DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis (R-2) by Kanamtsu and others. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Nov 2002: 1631-1643. Also review the corresponding webpage: http://wesley.wwb.noaa.gov/reanalysis2/index.html & the CDC website for Reanalysis 2: http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/cdc/data.ncep.reanalysis2.html	(6) Set up SSH software for transfer of files to course folder [directions] (7) Read the 2002 paper and note what is new/different from the previous papers. (8) Assignment #1 - Exploring Plotting Choices on the Reanalysis Website [Follow-up directions for Assignment #1 and class presentations]
3	Thu Feb 5	Teleconnections, Correlations, & Composites links for today	Read about the North American Regional Reanalysis: http://wwwt.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/rreanl/ Be sure you read the NARR FAQ and view the "Conference Presentations." Note the differences in number and type of variables that are in the regional model vs. the global model. (You can see them all listed when you go to the Plotting Page for Assignment #2.)	(9) Assignment #2 -Comparing the Global and Regional Reanalysis. Click here for directions (10) Come to class with a topic and plan for your mini-project in mind.
4	Tue Feb 10	Correlations & Composites (cont.)	No reading assignment for today -- prepare mini-project preliminary report	(11) Prepare mini-project preliminary report Click here for DIRECTIONS (MS doc)
4	Thu Feb 12	Low & High Latitudes, Sparse Regions & the Reanalysis	No assignment for today -- work on your mini projects	No assignment for today -- work on your mini-projects
5	Tue Feb 17	Orography & the Reanalysis (guest speaker: Dr. Bob Maddox)	No assignment for today -- work on your mini-projects	MINI-PROJECT FINAL REPORT GUIDELINES No assignment for today -- work on your mini-projects
5	Thu Feb 19	Class Wrap-Up, Class Map Gallery & Critiques links for today	No assignment for today -- work on your mini-projects	No assignment for today -- work on your mini-projects
	Mon Mar 1	Mini Projects Due
	Thu Mar 4 6:30 pm - 9 pm	Final Presentations & Discussion	w/ light dinner at Hirschboeck/Maddox house DIRECTIONS	Wise & Un-Wise Use Map Contest (details soon)