 Bob Rauber University of Illinois
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Teaching: My teaching and advising responsibilities at the University of Illinois are
the most challenging aspect of my work. I teach both graduate and undergraduate
courses. The level of instruction, breadth and depth of material, and type of
student enrolled in these courses differ substantially.
My goal at the
undergraduate level is to motivate students to take an active interest in
science, to obtain a basic understanding of the workings of their physical
environment, particularly the atmosphere, to appreciate the technological and
scientific advances that have led to our ability to predict the future behavior
of the atmosphere, and to develop educated opinions concerning the environmental
issues facing the world.
My courses at the graduate level are
specialized. My goal in these courses is to insure that my students understand
the fundamental physical principles underlying the science, to conduct thorough
reviews of research in the field, and to provide skills to intelligently analyze
and draw informed conclusions concerning the student's own, as well as other
published research. Achieving these goals is an enjoyable challenge.
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COURSES I HAVE TAUGHT SINCE 2000
| ATMS 120: Severe and Hazardous Weather: This course considers the most extreme manifestations of weather and climate are analyzed in terms of their physical basis and their historical, economic and human consequences. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between technological advances, the evolution of meteorology as a science, and the impacts of extreme weather (winter storms, floods, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, El Nino). Technological advances include satellites, weather radars and profilers, and computer models used for weather prediction |
| ATMS 303: Synoptic Weather Analysis: This required undergraduate course conceptualizes the structure and dynamics of the atmosphere through interpretation and analysis of weather charts, time and cross sections, soundings, and forecast products. Students develop case studies of weather system structure, and participate in discussions of weather processes as depicted by weather maps. Depiction of atmospheric kinematic and dynamic processes on weather charts is emphasized. Students learn conceptual models of the structure of mid-latitude cyclones and convective weather systems, including cyclogenesis, frontogenesis, the process of storm intensification, occlusion and frontolysis. |
| ATMS 410: Radar Meteorology:
Basic principles of radar and references to other ground based remote sensing systems, with emphasis on radar. Discusses principles of conventional and Doppler radar, data processing, and use of Doppler radar in meteorology. Emphasizes radar observations of meteorological phenomena, such as severe thunderstorms and wind shear. Students analyze data from national radar facilities. |
| ATMS 491: Applied Meteorology: This course will focus on applications of meteorology that are of particular importance to stakeholders and are the focus of work in our field’s private sector. Specifically, we will investigate the role of meteorology in Aviation, National Security, Hydrometeorology, Weather Decision and support systems, Agricultuer, wind and solar energy, emergency management, commodity markets, and other industries. |
| ATMS 500: Synoptic Dynamics: This course considers
provides a rigorous examination of the dynamical nature of various manifestations of the atmospheric circulation. Topics include the intrinsic effects of earth's rotation and stratification, vorticity and potential vorticity dynamics, the boundary layer, wave dynamics, geostrophic adjustment, cyclogenesis, and frontogenesis. |
| ATMS 501: Mesoscale Meteorology:
This course considers basic concepts and ideas on atmospheric processes that occur on scales of motions from a few kilometers to a few hundred kilometers, a scale loosely classified by meteorologists as "mesoscale". After an introductory discussion of mesoscale classifications and attendant forecast problems, the course will introduce various mesoscale phenomena, internally generated circulations, externally forced circulations, and mesoscale instabilities. Covers all three fundamental aspects of mesoscale meteorology: observations, theory and modeling, with particular emphasis on the dynamics of precipitating mesoscale systems. |
| ATMS 505 (formerly 403) Weather Systems: This course examines the structure and dynamics of mid-latitude weather systems. Students integrate weather observations with the current state of dynamic theory, numerical weather prediction models, and the physical principles of atmospheric thermodynamics, cloud and precipitation physics, and radiation to study the problems of weather analysis and forecasting. Students are required to give weather forecast briefings to develop an understanding of the weather forecasting process, and gain experience in communicating weather forecasts |
| ATMS 571 Professional Development: This course
is aimed at professional development in the atmospheric sciences so that students recognize the importance of breath of knowledge, effective oral and written scientific communication, and other skills they will need as professionals. |
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