METR 361 Spring,
2016
“Instant” Case Studies – Extratropical
Cyclones
The objective for today is to produce a
quick case study. We will focus on extratropical
cyclones of all kinds. From one of the
Linux computers, double-click Computer, then Filesystem, then the home folder,
and the METR 361 folder. There you will
see the Instant Cases folder. View the maps in the folder named with the dates
of your case. You need to be ready to
show the class what happened with your case before the end of lab today.
Specifics of the assignment:
1. The cases happened on the following
dates (with assigned presenters):
Feb 13-14, 2014 Young
February 24-28, 2013 Obee
December 3-5, 2013 Traficante
Jan 3-4, 2015 Fandrich
You must identify the key weather event in
your cases. That key event to be discussed could be a
Colorado storm, an Alberta Clipper, or a Nor’easter or something else! It could include other storms besides the
main one. In fact, there will be other storms of all types in your map set.
Find the key storm which was the most important or affected the most people. There may also be important associated weather,
like severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, or extreme cold. Figure out which are the
most important weather phenomena in your case and concentrate on them. IMPORTANT: I put many more maps than you need
in the folders. Don’t assume your key storm
starts right away with the first map.
2. Go to the Web to check on
precipitation, snowfall and other features of your case. You must use NOAA’s Advanced Hydrologic
Prediction Service (http://water.weather.gov/precip/) for radar estimates of the
precipitation. Use their archive to find
24-hour precipitation estimates for your dates.
For snowfall, use the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing
Center (http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index.html)
3. Starting at 3:30 p.m., show the class
what happened during your case. You have
a maximum of 15 minutes, so be brief and to the point. You can take a maximum
of 5 minutes of questions after your presentation. Tell the class what happened
using maps and information about the impacts, such as a snowfall or
precipitation map. Do not use
PowerPoint. Just show maps. You will
need to save just the ones you want to show.
Do not show them all! This is not a
finished product. It’s a quick-and-dirty
informal map showing.
There will be a folder named Presentation in
your case folder. Use that to save the
images you want to show and we will transfer them to the podium computer in 309
with a USB drive.
4.
Find some meteorological anomaly in your case, something that was
different from classic storms we study in lecture. Every storm has something unique that makes
it a challenge to forecast. You have the
advantage of hindsight. Explain how your anomaly was important to the case.
5. During the other students’ presentations,
I want you to take notes and give each of them a grade. Your rubric is to look for the following:
a. Did the presenter correctly identify the most important storm in
his/her map folder?
b. Did the presenter show you enough information so you have a good idea
of the weather situation during his/her case?
c. Did the presenter show and explain at
least one meteorological anomaly that made his/her case unique?
This is a graded lab. I will use your classmates’ grades as part of
my assessment. I will also use the
rubric in part 5, above.
METR 361 Grade Sheet Instant
Case Study lab
Note:
Do not grade yourself! Leave that
one blank.
Jillian Young Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):
Adam Traficante Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):
John Obee Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):
Katrina Fandrich Grade
(0-100%):
Notes (optional):