Overview — Course No. 1796

Uncover the science behind the mysterious and dynamic forces that create weather with Professor Robert Fovell. This course blends geography, chemistry, and physics to explain atmospheric phenomena, from daily clouds and winds to dramatic events like tornadoes and hurricanes. You’ll answer questions about rainforests, seasons, and the color of the sky, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how physical laws shape the climate. Engaging demonstrations and real-world examples will give you a new appreciation of the tools meteorologists use to forecast and interpret the ever-changing weather.

Video Lessons

01: Nature Abhors Extremes

Explore how weather phenomena like storms and winds emerge as nature’s way to moderate extremes in our world weather system.

Duration: 32 min

02: Temperature, Pressure, and Density

Understand three fundamental weather concepts—temperature, pressure, density—and their connection through the ideal gas law.

Duration: 28 min

03: Atmosphere—Composition and Origin

Examine what air is made of, the temperature behavior of hot and cold air, and the multi-layered structure of Earth’s atmosphere.

Duration: 29 min

04: Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect

Investigate electromagnetic radiation, the greenhouse effect, and how life is made possible by the sun’s energy.

Duration: 30 min

05: Sphericity, Conduction, and Convection

Learn why the Earth experiences temperature differences and seasons through sphericity, conduction, and convection.

Duration: 31 min

06: Sea Breezes and Santa Anas

Uncover how temperature and pressure drive coastal winds and study the powerful Santa Ana winds of California.

Duration: 28 min

07: An Introduction to Atmospheric Moisture

Discover the role of water vapor, temperature, and the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture, influencing global weather.

Duration: 31 min

08: Bringing Air to Saturation

Explore dew formation, high-altitude cooking, and what happens when air becomes fully saturated with water vapor.

Duration: 32 min

09: Clouds, Stability, and Buoyancy, Part 1

Delve into cloud formation, types, shapes, and the atmospheric conditions leading to their presence.

Duration: 32 min

10: Clouds, Stability, and Buoyancy, Part 2

Continue exploring clouds and examine precipitation patterns, climate distinctions, and why deserts form behind mountains.

Duration: 33 min

11: Whence and Whither the Wind, Part 1

Investigate how pressure, temperature, and planetary rotation cause winds and direct their movement globally.

Duration: 31 min

12: Whence and Whither the Wind, Part 2

Understand the effects of friction and centripetal force, and how they shape wind strength and direction worldwide.

Duration: 29 min

13: The Global Atmospheric Circulation

Trace the global flow of winds using models of air circulation, revealing temperature and weather patterns from pole to equator.

Duration: 31 min

14: Fronts and Extratropical Cyclones

Study the formation and lifecycle of powerful extratropical cyclones, generated when air masses collide.

Duration: 30 min

15: Middle Troposphere—Troughs and Ridges

Analyze troughs and ridges within the middle troposphere and how they influence high and low-pressure weather patterns.

Duration: 31 min

16: Wind Shear—Horizontal and Vertical

Take a 3D look at wind, discovering what causes wind shear and how it affects weather systems.

Duration: 28 min

17: Mountain Influences on the Atmosphere

Understand the far-reaching impact mountains have on atmospheric conditions and wind patterns.

Duration: 31 min

18: Thunderstorms, Squall Lines, and Radar

Examine the formation of summer storms and learn how radar is used to study and predict them.

Duration: 31 min

19: Supercells, Tornadoes, and Dry Lines

Dive into the world of supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes, exploring their causes and deadly effects.

Duration: 29 min

20: Ocean Influences on Weather and Climate

Discover how ocean currents and energy transfer influence global weather, forming complex climate feedback loops.

Duration: 33 min

21: Tropical Cyclones

Explore the anatomy and required conditions for tropical cyclones—hurricanes and typhoons.

Duration: 33 min

22: Light and Lightning

Bring together knowledge of air, radiation, and water cycles to unravel the beauty of light and lightning phenomena.

Duration: 32 min

23: Prediction and Predictability

See how meteorologists utilize advanced models to predict the weather, and understand the inherent limitations of forecasting.

Duration: 31 min

24: The Imperfect Forecast

Reflect on the enduring complexities of weather prediction and meteorology’s ongoing mysteries using events like Hurricane Rita.

Duration: 33 min