AOS 100/101: Weather and Climate
Instructor:
Prof. Michael C. Morgan
Office: AOSS 1455
email address: mcmorgan@ wisc.edu Phone number: 608 262 1957
Teaching Assistant:
Jacob Beitlich
email address: jbeitlich@wisc.edu
Office: AOSS 1547
Phone number: 608 265 9200
Meeting times: 2:25 - 3:15 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 105 PSYCHOLOGY
Note: After class on Mondays I will NOT be available for questions as I have other scheduled meetings
elsewhere on campus at 3:30.
Attendance: Your alert and engaged attendance is your “ticket” to office hours. Let me emphasize that if
you miss class due to circumstances beyond your control or if despite efforts you do not understand
material covered in class, I am eager to provide additional help! If you can't meet during my office
hours, feel free to contact me by phone or email to set up an appointment. On the other hand, if you
choose to skip class or sleep through class, you should not expect me to provide private tutoring on the
material you missed.
Office hours: Thursdays 10:00 to 12:00 PM
Course description: Structure, dynamics, thermodynamics, and radiative properties of the atmosphere
and weather systems within the atmosphere as they apply to forecasting. Climate and climate change.
Exams and grading: A significant fraction of the final grade is determined from exam performance.
Exams and problem sets will be given ONLINE on Learn@UW. In addition, as part of your grade, you
are expected to regularly forecast for Madison in our local contest. Your grade for forecasting is
determined by your participation, not your score.
Exams (4): 30 September, 28 October, 25 November, 14 December
Forecasting, problem sets
80 %
20 %
Extra-credit: Extra-credit may be earned by either:
1) Writing up a one-page summary of a weather event that affects Madison during the semester
between 1 October and 25 November. The write-up must be accompanied by hand analyses of
temperature, pressure, and frontal positions preceding, during, and after The amount of extracredit will be determined by the quality of the writing, the use of correct terminology learned in
class, and the quality of the analysis. These write-ups are due in class on 2 December. No
exceptions.
2) Participation in the national forecasting competition wxchallenge (wxchallenge.com). There is a
$3.00 entry fee for this contest. Your level of extra credit is determined by your regular, serious
participation, not your score. You would be required to forecast for 4 of the 5 cities this fall. You
must sign-up for this by 21 September.
Class email list: atmocn100-1-f09@lists.wisc.edu
Class web page: http://www.aos.wisc.edu /aos100.html