Hydrometeorology

Introduction: Definitions, brief history, meteorological measurements, hydrological cycle. General characteristics of the atmosphere: Origin, composition, vertical structure. Thermodynamics of the atmosphere: Laws of thermodynamics, laws of perfect gasses, water vapour in the atmosphere, changes of phase, changes of state. Radiation in the atmosphere – Energy budget. Atmospheric circulation: Atmospheric pressure and winds, regional and global meteorological systems, air masses, fronts, cyclones. Wind power. Transfer processes between atmosphere and land – vegetation – water surfaces. Evaporation and Transpiration: Energy approach, aerodynamic and combined approach. Precipitation: Physical context, meteorological context. Probable maximum precipitation: concept and estimation methodologies. Telemetric methods of precipitation measurements: satellite measurements, weather radar measurements. Hydrological models of precipitation forecasting. Introduction to climatology. Climatic variability and climatic change.

Instructors: D. Koutsoyiannis, N. Mamassis