Geography 2015N – Spring 2009
Weather and Climate - Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Instructor Office:
Lab Instructors:
E-mail:
Dr. Matthew G. Letts
WE 2052, Phone: : 403-317-2842
Katie Burles (WE 2053) and Mike Nemeth (WE 2018)
matthew.letts@uleth.ca, katie.burles@uleth.ca,
mike.nemeth@uleth.ca
Letts Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays (11:00-12:00)
Class Schedule:
Tuesdays (18:00-20:50)
Lab Schedule:
Wednesdays (09:00–11:50 or 15:00-17:50 in AH149)
Lecture room:
C756, University Hall
Textbook:
Ahrens, C.D. 2008. Essentials of Meteorology – An Invitation to
the Atmosphere. Thomson Learning, Belmont CA, 487 p.
Course Web-site:
http://classes.uleth.ca/200901/geog2015n
Prerequisite:
Geography 1010
Course Description:
This is an introductory course in weather and climate. Lectures will cover the basic
fundamentals 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, synoptic meteorology and
bioclimatology. Laboratory exercises will provide hands-on experience with weather and
climate analysis.
Course schedule:
Week
Jan 13, 14
Jan 20, 21
Jan 27, 28
Feb 3, 4
Feb 10, 11
Feb 24, 25
Mar 3, 4
Mar 10, 11
Mar 17
Mar 24, 25
Mar 31, Apr 1
Apr 7
Apr 14
Lecture Topic
Introduction/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 and Regional Climate Variability
Lab Exercise
Lab A(1,3) – Clouds
Lab A(2,4) – Clouds
Lab B(1,3) – Climate Indices
Test #1 Lab B(2,4) – Climate Indices
Lab C(1,3) – Vertical Analysis
Lab C(2,4) – Vertical Analysis
Test #2 Lab D(1,3) – Global Temps
Lab D(2,4) – Global Temperatures
Test #3 Lab E(1,3) – Syn. Meteorology
Lab E(2,4) – Synoptic Meteorology
Test #4
N.B.: *** Please bring your textbook to all lab periods ***
Grading Scheme:
Your grade will be determined through four tests (70%) and five laboratory exercises
(30%). 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 (Blackboard) 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
3
5
20
8
20
6
20
8
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. Further action would be taken for repeat offenders.
Definitions and policies regarding these offences can be found in the University of
Lethbridge 2008-2009 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.
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.
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.