C O U R S E A N N O U N C E M E N T --- S P R I N G 2 0 1 1
ATMS 391
Computational Problems in Atmospheric Science
Instructor:
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Prereq.:
Dr. Brian Jewett
202 Atms Sci Bldg
333-3957
[email protected]
MWF 12:00-12:50*
109 Atmos Sci Bldg
3 hours
55559
None
OBJECTIVES: This course is designed to help you develop essential programming skills and apply
these skills to a variety of types of computational problems involving geophysical data.
PREREQUISITES: None. No programming background is required. You will learn what you need from this course.
TEXT: Required: Introduction to Programming with Fortran by Ian Chivers and Jane Sleightholme (PDFs free through UI library online;
printed version $24.95). Recommended C text is inexpensive & available used. Javascript text, An introduction to HTML and
JavaScript for scientists and engineers, is also free through UI library.
LANGUAGES: This course stresses Fortran. But it will include some elements of:
•  Fortran (extensively)
•  C (the basics)
•  Javascript (C in your browser)
•  Scripting with c-shell
•  Use of the Linux system
PROBLEMS: We will work on computing problems both in (during) and outside (assignments) of class. I will draw from current and forecast
weather data as well as model simulation / analysis fields. This is not a modeling class but we will work with data from model
experiments including hurricanes and severe storms. We will "learn by doing.”
VISUALIZATION: Our field deals extensively with observational and model information, in the form of 1-, 2-, and 3-D data sets.
You will learn programming to help you prepare and manipulate data, which we will then visualize with tools like VisIt.
COMPUTING: If you have a laptop, bring it. If not, you can use classroom PCs.
If you have any questions about the class, feel free to contact me.
*Change from original scheduled day/time/room