Geography 2300N – Fall 2010
Weather and Climate - Course Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Matthew G. Letts
Instructor Office: WE 2052, Phone: 403-317-2842
Lab Instructors: Sarah Dalla Vicenza (WE 2018) and Ryan MacDonald (WE 2038)
E-mail: matthew.letts@uleth.ca, sarah.dallavicenza@uleth.ca, ryan.macdonald@uleth.ca
Letts Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays (10:30-11:30)
Class Schedule:
Lab Schedule:
Lecture room:
Textbook:
Tuesdays (18:00-20:50)
Wednesdays (09:00–11:50 or 13:00-15:50 in AH148)
C756, University Hall
Aguado E.& Burt J.E. 2010. Understanding Weather and
Climate , 5 th
Edition. 586 p.
Course Web-site: http://classes.uleth.ca/201003/geog2300n
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 Lecture Topic Lab Exercise
Sept 14
Sept 21, 22
Sept 28, 29
Oct 5, 6
Oct 12, 13
Oct 19, 20
Oct 26, 27
Nov 2,3
Nov 9, 10
Nov 16, 17
Nov 23, 24
Nov 30,Dec 1
Dec 6, 7
Introduction/Atmosphere/Radiation Balance
Atmospheric Optics/Atmospheric Moisture Lab A(1,3) – Clouds
Condensation/Stability and Cloud Development Lab A(2,4) – Clouds
Air Pressure, Forces and Local Winds Test #1 Lab B(1,3) – Climate Indices
Local Weather / Large-scale Winds Lab B(2,4) – Climate Indices
Air Masses and Fronts
Mid-latitude Cyclones
Weather Forecasting
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Hurricanes
Air Pollution
Global and Regional Climate Variability
Lab C(1,3) – Vertical Analysis
Test #2 Lab C(2,4) – Vertical Analysis
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 Table 2
Item % of grade
Percentage Grade GPV
Lab 1
Lab 2
Test 1
Lab 3
Test 2
Lab 4
Test 3
Lab 5
Test 4
20
6
20
8
10
3
5
20
8
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
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
F
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 2010-2011 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.