GEOG 305- Principles of Meteorology University of Tennessee at Martin Department of Agriculture, Geosciences & Natural Resources Course Syllabus, Spring 2013 Instructor: Office: Email: Office Hours: Course Time: Room: Required Text: Chris Karmosky 201-C Johnson EPS ckarmosk@utm.edu M 2:00-3:00, T 1:00-2:30, R 12:15-1:00, otherwise by appointment (email: ckarmosk@utm.edu) TR 11:00-12:15 227 EPS Moran, Weather Studies: Introduction to Atmospheric Science Why would I want to take this course? In order to understand some of the more pressing environmental problems facing us, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of how the environment around us works. This course is an introduction to the properties of the atmosphere, the scientific principles that govern weather and climate, and the interactions between the atmosphere and other components of the Earth system. Evaluation: The grade for this course will be based on presentation and discussion on a severe weather topic, midterm exam, final project, and final exam: Approx. Seven Homework Assignments (~140 Points) Two Midterm Exams (100 Points) Final Project (100 Points) Final Exam (100 Points) Total: Approximately 540 Points Students are expected to take all quizzes, midterms, and the final exam on the scheduled dates. No make-ups will be administered unless the student has made prior arrangements or has a valid excuse. If no prior arrangements are made to take an exam or quiz at an alternate time, the exam or quiz shall be administered at the sole discretion of the instructor. Unless otherwise stated, all projects are due at 5PM on the due date at the top of the assignment. Electronic submissions of typed work will be accepted. Late work will be accepted, but only for partial credit. A maximum deduction of 50% of the point value will apply for work more than 48 hours late. No late work will be accepted after December 7. Religious Holidays: I will make every reasonable effort to allow students to observe their religious holidays without penalty. If you must miss class, however, it is still your responsibility to make up any missed material. Please let me know the dates you will miss well ahead of time. Academic Honesty: UTM requires me to place a blurb about academic honesty in my syllabus. While it’s my hope that this never becomes an issue, this is here for everyone’s benefit. Academic honesty and integrity is expected in this course (and any other course at UTMartin for that matter). You are expected to produce work that is entirely your own for each and every assignment. All exams are closed-note, closed-book, and closed-neighbor unless otherwise specified. Take-home assignments must also be your own work. While asking questions regarding the subject material is permissible, copying and/or paraphrasing another person’s work will be considered plagiarism. Facilitating academic dishonesty is also considered academic dishonesty. Operating by the “better safe than sorry” principle works best, and I would encourage students who feel uncomfortable giving assistance to a student to refer that student to me for assistance. Any academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade for the assignment, and will be reported to the Division of Student Affairs. Student Success Center, Office of Disability Services: If you require additional accommodations as the result of a disability, it is your responsibility, within the first two weeks of class, to coordinate with the Office of Disability Services as per the guidelines below. Students have the following roles in the academic accommodation process: Identify themselves to the Office of Disabilities Services if they need accommodations; Provide documentation of their disability to the Office of Disabilities Services; Participate with the Office of Disabilities Services in the interactive process of determining and implementing reasonable accommodations; Make arrangements for accommodations by providing their professors with a letter from the Office of Disabilities Services approving accommodations and work directly with the professors and staff involved in the provision of an approved accommodation; and Inform the Office of Disabilities Services when accommodations are not provided, accommodations are not working, accommodations need to be modified, or symptoms change. I will work within the guidelines suggested by the student success center, and will take all reasonable actions necessary to provide necessary accommodations. Please visit the following page for more information: http://www.utm.edu/departments/success/disability.php Writing Center: The Hortense Parrish Writing center is a resource for any student who would like individualized help in improving their writing. The Writing Center is open to students for tutoring, computer use, printing, workshops, reading, and general study, and I encourage you to take advantage of this resource! Their web URL is below: http://www.utm.edu/departments/writingcenter/ ***I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus as we go along. You will still be responsible for the changes announced in class*** Schedule: (Assigned Readings in Italics) Week 1: Thursday (1/10) Introduction, Assign Hwk. #1 (Map Exercise) Week 2: Week 3: Tuesday (1/15) Chapter 1: Monitoring the Weather **Homework #1 Due** Thursday (1/17) Chapter 1: Describing the State of the Atmosphere, Assign Hwk. #2 (Unit Conversion) Tuesday (1/22) Thursday (1/24) Week 4: Tuesday (1/29) Chapter 2: Atmospheric Origin and Composition Chapter 2: Investigating and Monitoring the Atmosphere, Atmospheric Structure **Homework #2 Due** Chapter 3: Solar and Terrestrial Radiation Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9: Week 10: Thursday (1/31) Chapter 3: Solar and Terrestrial Radiation (cont.), Assign Hwk. #3 (Electromagnetic Spectrum) Tuesday (2/5) Finish Chapter 3, Review for Exam #1 **Homework #3 Due** Thursday (2/7) **Exam #1**, Chapters 1, 2 and 3 Tuesday (2/12) Chapter 4: Heat, Temperature and Atmospheric Circulation, Assign Hwk. #4 (Temperature) Thursday (2/14) Chapter 4: Heat, Temperature and Atmospheric Circulation Tuesday (2/19) Finish Chapter 4, Begin Chapter 5: Air Pressure **Homework #4 Due** Thursday (2/21) Chapter 5: Air Pressure, Assign Hwk. #5 (Pressure) Tuesday (2/26) Finish Chapter 5, Begin Chapter 6: Humidity, Saturation and Stability. Thursday (2/28) Chapter 6: Humidity, Saturation and Stability. **Homework #5 Due**, Assign Final Project Tuesday (3/5) Spring Break (No Class) Thursday (3/7) Spring Break (No Class) Tuesday (3/12) Chapter 7: Clouds and Precipitation, Assign Hwk. #6 (Humidity and Precipitation) Thursday (3/14) **Exam #2**, Chapters 4, 5, 6 Week 11: Week 12: Week 13: Week 14: Tuesday (3/19) Chapter 7: Clouds and Precipitation **Homework #6 Due** Thursday (3/21) Chapter 8: Wind **Project Proposal Due** Tuesday (4/2) Finish Chapter 8, Begin Chapter 9: Atmospheric Circulation, Assign Hwk. #7 (Circulation) Thursday (4/4) Chapter 9: Atmospheric Circulation Tuesday (4/9) Chapter 10: Mid-Latitude Weather Systems **Homework #7 Due** Thursday (4/11) Chapter 10: Mid-Latitude Weather Systems Tuesday (4/16) Chapter 11: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Thursday (4/18) Week 15: Chapter 12: Tropical Weather Systems **Final Paper Due** Tuesday (4/21) Chapter 13: Weather Analysis and Forecasting Thursday (4/25) **Final Project Presentations** Week 16: Final Exam: TBA Please refer to http://www.utm.edu/departments/registrar/final.php for information regarding the final exam scheduling.