Geography 2300N – Weather and Climate – Spring 2012 Syllabus
Instructor:
Instructor Office:
Lab Instructors:
E-mail:
Dr. Matthew G. Letts
WE2052, Phone: 403-317-2842
Stephnie Watson (WE2053); Tayler Hamilton (WE2003)
matthew.letts@uleth.ca, stephnie.watson@uleth.ca,
tayler.hamilton@uleth.ca
Letts Office hours: Mondays (13:30-15:00)
Class Schedule:
Tuesdays (18:00-20:50)
Lab Schedule:
Wednesdays (09:00–11:50 or 15:00-17:50 in AH147)
Lecture room:
AH117, Anderson Hall
Textbook:
Aguado E. & Burt J.E. 2010. Understanding Weather and
Climate, 5th Edition. 586 p.
Course Web-site:
https://moodle.uleth.ca; http://classes.uleth.ca/201201/geog2300n/
Prerequisite:
Geography 1000 or Environmental Science 2000
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.
Textbook and iClicker
New or used textbooks and e-books can be purchased from the University of Lethbridge
bookstore. In addition to the course textbook, we will begin using iClickers during the
second week of classes. This will foster classroom interaction and help you to identify
concepts that you need to work on before your exams.
Course schedule:
Week
January 10,11
January 17, 18
January 24, 25
Jan 31, Feb1
February 7, 8
February 14, 15
February 21, 22
February 28, 29
March 6, 7
March 13, 14
March 20, 21
March 27, 28
April 3,4
April 10
Lecture Topic
Introduction/Atmosphere/Radiation Balance
Atmospheric Optics/Atmospheric Moisture
Condensation/Stability & Cloud Development
Air Pressure, Forces and Local Winds
Local Weather / Large-scale Winds
Air Masses and Fronts
READING WEEK (no classes)
Mid-latitude Cyclones
Weather Forecasting
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Hurricanes
Air Pollution
Global and Regional Climate Variability
Lab Exercise
Lab A(1,2) – The Atmosphere / Clouds
Lab A(3,4) – The Atmosphere / Clouds
Lab B(1,2) – Climate Indices
Lab B(3,4) – Climate Indices
Test #1 Lab C(1,2) – Vertical Analysis
Lab C(3,4) – Vertical Analysis
Lab D(1,2) – Global Temperatures
Lab D(3,4) – Global Temperatures
Test #2
Lab E(1,2) – Synoptic Meteorology
Lab E(3,4) – Synoptic Meteorology
Test #3
N.B.: *** Please bring your textbook to all lab periods ***
Grading Scheme:
Your grade will be determined through three 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
Moodle 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
Lab 3
Lab 4
Lab 5
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Table 2
% of grade
3
5
8
6
8
30
30
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. This includes copying of lab assignments. Further
action would be taken for repeat offenders. Definitions and policies regarding these
offences can be found in the University of Lethbridge 2011-2012 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.