Geography 3850 B – Spring 2004
Atmospheric Analysis - Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Office:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Office hours:
Class Schedule:
Lab Schedule:
Room:
Textbook:
Dr. Matthew G. Letts
University Hall, C850
317-2842 (office)
matthew.letts@uleth.ca
Mondays (09:00 – 12:00) and Wednesdays (09:00-12:00)
Tuesdays and Thursdays (10:50-12:05)
Thursdays (15:00-17:50)
B543 (classes and laboratory exercises)
Oke, T.R. 2003. Boundary Layer Climates (Second edition). Routledge,
London, UK. pp. 435
Supplemental readings will be assigned after reading week
Course Description:
This course entails an analysis of the physical mechanisms of energy and mass flows between the terrestrial
surface and the atmosphere, global tropospheric circulation, cyclone development and severe weather
events. Energy and trace gas exchange will first be discussed within the planetary boundary layer, and then
placed in the context of global tropospheric circulation and climate change. The course will end with a
consideration of the physical basis of severe weather phenomena, with a specific emphasis on winter
storms.
Marking Scheme:
Tests (3 x 10%)
Surface Radiation Balance Lab
Surface Energy Balance Lab
NEE/ Carbon Balance Lab
Upper Air Soundings Lab
Winter Storm Analysis Presentation
30%
10%
15%
15%
10%
20%
Tests:
The three tests, held in class, will consist of definitions, multiple choice, short answer questions and
calculations.
Lab Exercises:
You will be given two weeks to complete each of the four laboratory exercises.
Winter Storm Analysis:
Each student is expected to give a 5-10 minute scientific talk on a winter storm that occurs anywhere over
North America during the semester. You will be given laboratory time to work on this assignment. Further
details will be provided after the upper air profile lab.
Final Grading Scheme:
Your grades will be made available on the Web-CT site, and will be updated regularly. I will give
percentile marks for the tests, assignments and presentation, but these marks will be converted to a letter
grade for your final transcript grade, which corresponds to a specific grade point value. The following
outlines the grade conversion scheme for this course:
Percentage
90-100
85-89
80-84
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
56-59
50-55
00-49
Letter
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. Please note that while I encourage students to work in groups,
identical answers on assignments are considered to be a form of plagiarism, so use your own words. I take
plagiarism seriously and have enforced these penalties in the past. Definitions and policies regarding
plagiarism can be found in the University of Lethbridge 2003-2004 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 assignments. Please, however, do not
attend class, 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:
A mark of zero will be assigned to all late assignments or missed tests/presentations, except in the case of
documented health or personal reasons.
Inclusive language policy:
“Inclusive language may be defined as language which does not discriminate among characteristics of
gender, age, race or ethnicity, religion or minority” (p. 68, 2003-2004 Calendar, University of Lethbridge).
Students are expected to use Inclusive Language in all written work, class discussion and presentations. I
reserve the right to consider failure to use such language in graded work as grounds for a mark deduction.
Class Schedule:
Month
January
Date
8
13,15
20,22
27,29
February
March
April
Topic*
Introduction/ Radiation Laws
Surface Radiation Balance
Energy Balance/Latent and Sensible
Heat Flux / Energy Flux Measurement
Climate of Non-Vegetated and
Vegetated Environments
3,5
10,12
Trace Gas Exchange and Terrain Effects
Urban Climatology/Review of Global
Circulation/ Cyclone Development
17,19
24,26
Reading Week
Winds/The Jet Stream/ Upper Air
Soundings
Upper Air Soundings/ Winter Storms/
The Lake Effect
2,4
9,11
16,18
Mountain Wave/ Chinooks / Hurricanes
Summer Thunderstorms/ Tornadoes
/Lightning
23,25
30, A1
6,8
Climate Change Discussion (Seminar)
Review / TBA
Winter Storm Presentations (April 6)
13,15
Winter Storm Presentations
* Topic dates are subject to change
Graded Components
No lab
Radiation Balance Lab
Lab Help Session
Energy Balance Lab
Test #1: Jan 27
Radiation Balance Lab
due Jan 29
Lab Help Session
NEE Lab
Energy Balance Lab due
Feb 12
Lab Help Session
Upper Air Sounding Lab
Test #2: Mar 2
NEE Lab due Mar 4
Lab Help Session
Winter Storm Analysis
Upper Air Sounding Lab
due Mar 18
Winter Storm Analysis
TBA
Test #3: Apr 6
No lab
No lab