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.