COURSE:
REVISION DATE:
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Curriculum Committee:
Instruction Council:
Date Filed in Library:
METR 210
COURSE OUTLINE
Please check the appropriate category for the level of revision:
ROUTINE
MAJOR
NEW COURSE
Department:
Meteorology
Number: 210
Title:
Introduction to Weather and Climate
Credits 5
Abbreviated Title (20 Characters): Weather and Climate
Weekly Student Contact Hours x 10-Week Quarter:
Typically:
Lecture Hours Per Quarter:
Non-Lecture Hours Quarter:
Lab
Clinic
Other
Total Hours Per Quarter (lecture and non-lecture):
60
_6 hours per week
40
20
60
Intended Use of the Course:
A. Not Intended for Transfer, Typically Numbered Below 100
B. Intended for Transfer as Distribution: (please mark one of the following):
Writing Skills
Social Sciences
Quantitative Skills
Non-lab Natural Science
Lab Natural Science
Humanities w/o Performance
Humanities with Performance
C. Elective
D. Restricted Elective – Courses numbered 100 or higher that do not normally transfer to
baccalaureate institutions.
Course catalog description:
Explore Earth's atmosphere and the factors that determine weather, seasons, and climate. Practice measuring and
forecasting the weather. Learn to read weather maps, identify clouds, and understand the causes and
consequences of extreme storms. Includes laboratory.
Prerequisites: MATH 093 or MATH 096 or higher.
Name of Originator: Ralph Dawes
Signature of Administrator:
Date:
2/1/2015
Date:
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Revised 10/14
COURSE OBJECTIVES
I.
Student Learning Outcomes
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1.
Problem Solving:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Critical Thinking
Creative Thinking
Quantitative Reasoning
Qualitative Reasoning
2.
Communication:
A. Oral Expression
B. Written Expression
C. Artistic Expression
3.
Social Interaction:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Collaboration
Ethical Conduct
Professional Conduct
Cultural Diversity
4.
Inquiry:
A. Information Literacy
B. Research
C. Documentation
List your principal course objectives and then match them with the Student Learning Outcomes
(SLO’s) above. It is important to note you DO NOT need to provide a
course objective to match each of the above categories.
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Upon completion of this course, successful students will (be able to):
Make systematic observations and measurement, shown in appropriate units and
graphed results.
Read and draw weather maps including fronts, isobars, and weather station symbols.
Analyze and explain observations, experiments, and weather maps in terms of
meteorological theory.
Forecast the weather based on the theory of polar fronts and midlatitude cyclones.
Describe the data sources, methods, and limitations of weather analysis and
prediction.
Specify uncertainty (precision) in measurements, round calculated results to the
correct precision, and convert units using dimensional analysis writing out each
complete step in the calculation including all conversion factors with units included
and, where appropriate, units cancelled.
State basic principles of physics and describe in writing how they explain
atmospheric phenomena in terms of heat, temperature, pressure, gas behavior,
electromagnetic radiation, and the shape and orbit of the earth.
Diagram and name the main layers of the atmosphere (vertical) and the latitudinal
wind belts (horizontal) and explain how they function in terms of heat transfer and
air pressure.
Quickly find current, detailed information on weather and climate.
Name, describe, and explain actual weather, including cloud types, wind directions,
types of cyclones or anticyclones, and types of precipitation.
Rephrase in more scientific terms meteorological topics reported in the news media,
and provide relevant explanations of the meteorology that go beyond the news
report.
Categories
1C, 1D, 2B
1A, 1C, 1D, 2B,
4A
1A, 1D, 2B, 4B
1A, 1D, 2B, 4A,
4B
1A, 4A
1C, 2B
1A, 1D
1A, 1D, 4B
4A
1A, 1D, 4B
2B, 4A, 4B
Footnotes:
(1) A typical course addresses two or three of the four principal SLO areas, though one or all four may be acceptable for
a given course
(2) It is the AAS-DTA in total which covers all of the SLO’s.
II.
List core topics of this course.
Weather; measuring weather elements; temperature; heat; heat transfer; electromagnetic radiation;
convection; water phase changes; latent heat; water vapor saturation; dew point; humidity; clouds; fog;
precipitation; atmospheric stability and instability; atmospheric pressure; partial pressure; pressure
gradient force; Coriolis effect; wind direction; air masses; global air circulation; regional and local
winds; weather fronts; midlatitude cyclones; anticyclones, ridges; troughs; weather maps; weather
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Revised 10/14
forecasting; thunderstorms; lightning; tornadoes, hurricanes; climate; climate controls; world climate
zones; greenhouse gas; global climate models; climate change.
III.
Text and Reference Materials:
Text may be chosen by the instructor. Must include all or nearly all of the topics listed above and be
appropriate for an introductory college level geology course, based on established scientific theories and
up-to-date information. The instructor may also choose to use a published physical geology lab manual;
alternatively, the instructor may create and distribute his or her own lab instructions.
IV.
Special Equipment, Supplies and/or Materials Required:
Multimedia teaching station: Includes document camera, computer with Internet connection, and
recorded video player, all projected to large screen.
Equipment shared by whole classroom: Rooftop wireless weather station hooked to classroom
electronic reader board and computer hookup for regular weather monitoring.
Student Equipment Shared in Pairs or Small Groups:
 Computer stations or wireless computers with Internet connectivity. (PDA’s and smart phones have
screens too small for weather map analysis.)
 Student analog lab equipment: For every two students, one organized set of analog weather
instruments (liquid-in-glass, non-mercury thermometers, aneroid barometers, sling psychrometers,
anemometers, and stainless steel cups).
 Student digital lab equipment: For every two (or four) students, a set of digital sensors for weather
measurements and lab experiments (such as PASCO or Vernier brands - electronic weather sensors
with PDA’s to hook up to, and/or cables to computers; with bench-top temperature, pressure, light,
and humidity sensors with digital output to computer programs for tabling, graphing, analyzing.
In addition, along with the laboratory equipment, a variety of perishables are used each quarter,
such as candles, matches, smoke paper, and ice.
V.
Transferability:
Least transferable
RESTRICTED
CREDIT
(as defined by
DTA and ICRC)
Most transferable
GER (General
Education
Requirement) with our
degree; Generally does
not transfer unless
with DTA completed)
Eastern WU
Central WU
WSU
Western WU
UW
GTC (General Transfer
Credit) Transfers w/ or
w/o the degree; Generally
transfers as credit without
completing DTA but only
as XX or no specific
equivalent course
COURSE EQUIVALENT
(please list equivalent
course descriptor/ number)
Transfers w/or w/o degree
because it has specific
course equivalent
GEOG 204
NAT SCI 100-level
GERP LXXX
TRAN 2TT
ATM SCI 101
VI.
Lab Fees: Course already has an existing Lab Fee:
YES
NO
This is a NEW course and needs to establish a Lab Fee:
YES
NO
Existing Lab Fee:
$20.00
Suggested NEW Lab Fee: $
VII.
Course Development Stipend Authorization. For course development stipends the appropriate
Dean must COMPLETE this section:
NEW Course development
Conversion of an existing course for
Online or
Hybrid or
Other (check one)
Major online revision (check one)
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Revised 10/14
VIII.
Changes: For your Routine or Major Revision, please list or briefly describe all changes made to this
course outline compared to the previous outline.
Updating Student Learning Outcomes
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Revised 10/14