Geography 2015N – Spring 2008
Weather and Climate - Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Instructor Office:
Lab Instructors:
E-mail:
Office hours:
Class Schedule:
Lab Schedule:
Lecture room:
Textbook:
Course Web-site:
Prerequisite:
Dr. Matthew G. Letts
C850, University Hall, 317-2842
Ryan MacDonald and David Rolfson (C754) 329-2535
matthew.letts@uleth.ca
Tuesdays and Thursdays (14:00-15:30)
Tuesdays (18:00-20:50)
Wednesdays (09:00–11:50 or 15:00-17:50 in AH149)
B660, University Hall
Ahrens, C.D. 2008. Essentials of Meteorology – An Invitation to
the Atmosphere. Thomson Learning, Belmont CA, 487 p.
http://classes.uleth.ca/200801/geog2015n
Geography 1010
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 8
Jan 15,16
Jan 22
Jan 29,30
Feb 5
Feb 12,13
Feb 26
Mar 4,5
Mar 11
Mar 18
Mar 25
Apr 1
Apr 8
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
Test #1 Lab2 – Climate Indices
Lab 3 – Vertical Analysis
Test #2
Lab 4 – Global Temperatures
Test #3
Lab 5 – Synoptic Meteorology
Test #4
Grading Scheme:
Your grade will be determined through four tests (60%) and five laboratory exercises
(40%). The tests may include multiple choice, short essay and calculation questions.
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
15
8
15
10
15
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. Further action would be taken for repeat offenders.
Definitions and policies regarding these offences can be found in the University of
Lethbridge 2007-2008 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.