Geography 2015N – Spring 2005
Weather and Climate - Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Instructor Office:
Lab Instructor:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Office hours:
Class Schedule:
LabSchedule:
Lecture room:
Textbook:
Course Web-site:
Prerequisite:
Dr. Matthew G. Letts
C850, University Hall
Suzan Lapp (C755, University Hall)
317-2842 (office)
matthew.letts@uleth.ca
Tuesdays and Thursdays (09:30-12:00)
Tuesday evenings (18:00-20:50)
Tuesday (15:05 – 17:45 E640) or Friday (09:00-11:50 E640)
C756, University Hall
Ahrens, C.D. 2003. Meteorology Today, An Introduction to
Weather, Climate and the Environment. Nelson Thomson
Learning, Toronto, 544 pp.
http://classes.uleth.ca/200501/geog2015n
Geography 1010 (Geography 1000 prior to 2004/2005)
Course Description:
This course is an introductory course in weather and climate. Lectures will cover the
basics of meteorology, including an introduction to the Earth’s atmosphere, global
atmospheric and oceanic circulation, the structure and behaviour of world and regional
weather systems, severe weather, climate variation and cycles, global warming, synoptic
meteorology and bioclimatology. Laboratory exercises will provide hands-on experience
with weather and climate analysis.
Course schedule:
Week
Jan 10-14
Jan 17-21
Jan 24-28
Jan 31-Feb 4
Feb 7-11
Feb 14-18
Feb 28-Mar 4
Mar 7-11
Mar 14-18
Mar 21-24
Mar 29-Apr 1
Apr 4-8
Apr 11-15
Lecture Topic
Introduction
The Earth’s Atmosphere/Radiation Balance
Atmospheric Optics/Atmospheric Moisture
Condensation/Stability and Cloud Development
Air Pressure, Forces and Local Winds
Local Weather / Large-scale Winds
Air Masses and Fronts
Mid-latitude Cyclones
Weather Forecasting
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Hurricanes
Air Pollution
Global Climate & Climate Change
Lab Exercise
Lab 1 – Clouds (Sec 1,3,4)
Lab 1 – Clouds (Sec 2)
Lab2 – Climate Indices (Sec 1,3,4)
Test #1, Lab 2 – Clim Ind (Sec 2)
Lab 3 – Vertical Analysis (1,3,4)
Test #2 – Lab 3 – Vert Anal (Sec 2)
Lab 4 – Global Temperatures (1,3,4)
Lab 4 – Global Temps (Sec 2)
Test #3
Lab 5 – Synoptic Meteorol. (1,3,4)
Lab 5 – Synoptic Meteorol. (Sec 2)
Test #4
Grading Scheme:
Your grade will be determined through four tests (60%) and five laboratory exercises
(40%). The tests may include multiple choice and short-answer questions. Details of the
format of each test will be given one week ahead of the test date. There will be no final
exam in this course. Due dates for the labs will be provided by the lab instructor. Table
1 outlines how your performance will be assessed in this course. Your grades will be
made available on the Web-CT site, and will be updated regularly. I will give percentage
or fractional marks for the tests and lab exercises but these marks will be converted to a
letter grade for your final transcript grade, which corresponds to a specific grade point
value. Table 2 outlines the grade conversion scheme for this course:
Table 1
Item
Lab 1
Lab 2
Test 1
Lab 3
Test 2
Lab 4
Test 3
Lab 5
Test 4
Table 2
% of grade
5
7
15
10
20
8
15
10
10
Percentage
90.0-100
85.0-89.9
80.0-84.9
76.7-79.9
73.3-76.6
70.0-73.2
66.7-69.9
63.3-66.6
60.0-63.2
55.0-59.9
50.0-54.9
0.0-49.9
Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
GPV
4.0
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.3
1.0
0.0
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is an extremely serious academic offence and carries penalties varying from a
written reprimand and failure in an assignment, to debarment from the University. Any
student found to have plagiarized or cheated in this course would receive a mark of zero
on the work in question, in addition to a written reprimand copied to the Registrar’s
Office, if it were a first offence. No warning would be given. Further action would be
taken for repeat offenders. I take plagiarism and cheating seriously and have enforced
these penalties in the past. Definitions and policies regarding these offences can be found
in the University of Lethbridge 2004-2005 Calendar.
Grammar and Style:
It is expected that written submissions will conform to high standards of grammar and
style. Bad grammar and style may be penalized in any submitted work. Appropriate
allowances will be made for students whose first language is not English.
Attendance:
Regular attendance in the lectures is important and has a significant bearing on student
performance. Testing may include material covered in the textbook, lectures and lab
exercises. Please, however, do not attend classes and labs, write tests or personally
deliver assignments when ill. Appropriate arrangements will be made for those who
provide acceptable documentation demonstrating a valid medical or personal reason for
missing tests or due dates.
Late Assignments / Missed Tests:
A mark of zero will be assigned to all late lab exercises or missed tests, except in the case
of documented health or personal reasons.