MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
GES 107/AEG 201
Course outline: Meteorology and Climatology
NB This Module is assigned three hours per week.
1.0 Definitions of important Concepts
Meteorology, Climate, weather, climatology, climate factor and element, weather forecasting, precipitation and weather instruments
2.0
Composition and Structure of the atmosphere

Layers, gases and role they play( Homosphere,hetrosphere)
3.0
Climate phenomena( Radiation Concepts and Radiation Balance )

Basic radiation concepts(definition, laws)

Radiation budget net radiation
 Earth’s radiation/heat balance

The green house effect and effect on climate
4.0 Atmospheric Stability

States of equilibrium and lapse rates

Atmospheric stability(parcel method)

The tephigram and atmospheric stability

Temperature inversions
4.0
Precipitation proesses and atmospheric electricity
Condensation nuclei and saturation vapour pressure

Liquid atmospheric water, formation and the growth of clouds

Electrical field and electrical charges in clouds

Electrical discharge(lightning) Cloud- cloud and to earth

Types and factors in precipitation formation

Weather modification
5.0
General circulation, Air masses and weather systems
Wind and forces producing the wind

General circulation and models, mean sea level and isobaric charts

Climate classification systems( why)

Air masses and fronts( source regions and modification)

Weather systems , their movements and dissipation

Regional climates(equatorial, tropical, polar etc )

Wind and forces producing the wind
6.0 Climates of Africa and Zimbabwe
1


Air masses Affecting Africa and Zimbabwe

Weather generating systems

ITCZ

Trade Winds

Seasons

The art of weather forecasting
6.0
Theories and evidence of climate change and variability
 evidence of climate change and variability

Current state of the science ( global warming)

Global and local features of climate change and variability

International views and responses to available
Recommended Basic Texts:
1.
WMO(1984): Compendium of lecture Notes Vol II – Meteorology for
Training class IV Meteorological personnel by B.J Retallack WMO No. 266
2.
WMO: Compendium of lecture Notes for Training class III Meteorological personnel by B.J Retallack WMO No. 291
3.
D.H Mclntosh & A.S Thom: Essentials of Meterology
4.
WMO: Compendium of lecture Notes In Climatology for Class IV
Meteorological personnel by professor W.Lowry WMO No. 327
5.
WMO: Compendium of Meteorology for ClassI &II Vol I – Part II –
Physical Meteorology by B.J Retallack WMO No. 364
6.
Buckle: The climate of Africa
7.
WMO :Climate Change (1995) and Climate Impacts
8.
Donald Ahrens : Meteorology Today: An introduction to weather, climate and the environment
2