GEOGRAPHY 410: APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
FALL QUARTER 2004
Mon. 6:10-10 pm
KH D-4047
Instructor: Steve LaDochy
Office: KH-C4061; phone-ext.32222
Email: sladoch@calstatela.edu
Applied climatology involves the use of climatic data to solve a variety of social,
economic and environmental problems, such as for clients in agriculture, industry and
energy. The basic purpose of applied climatology is to help society, at all scales and
levels, to achieve a better adjustment to the climatic environment. -Keith Smith
The objectives of this course are to introduce and discuss the basic topics of applied
climatology and how its concepts can be used in everyday planning and operations (i.e.,
in transportation, agriculture, resource management, health and energy). Each student
should be prepared to contribute to discussions each meeting.
Class Schedule
Week 1: Introduction-what is applied climatology? Scales of climate; climate as a
resources, hazard; impact assessment. (Read Chapter 1*)
Week 2: Solar Energy and Heating-the engine that drives the weather and climate
machine; temperature variability; radiation and temperature applications. (Ch. 2,
3)
Week 3: The Water Cycle. Measuring and evaluating water supplies and demand; floods
and droughts; irrigation scheduling and other water budget applications. (Ch. 4)
Week 4: Winds and Wind Power. The importance of wind, global and local winds,
computer models; ocean currents and El Nino. (Ch. 5-7)
Week 5: Synoptic Climatology and Storms. Weather patterns & long-range forecasting;
hazardous weather. (Ch. 8, 9)
Week 6: Bioclimatology and Urban Climates: physiological and psychological effects of
weather/climate; urbanization effects on microclimates; urban planning and
architecture; air pollution climatology. (Ch. 17)
.
Week 7,8: Climate, Agriculture & Industry: Food production, crop models;
transportation, construction, energy and consumerism; the value of forecasts;
“some people are weatherwise, some otherwise.” (Ch. 18)
Week 9: Climatic Variability-short and long-term climatic change; global warming, Ice
Ages and the Farmers’ Almanac; Miss Cleo. (Ch. 15, 16, 19)
Week 10: Methods in Climatology. Current research; satellite climatology; models. (Ch.
20)
************** FINAL Mon., Dec. 6th, 7:30 pm ********************
Course grading:
Lab activities
Exams
Term paper/ project
20%
30%
50% (optional project…10%, with paper 40%)
*Course textbook: Oliver and Hidore, Climatology: An Atmospheric Science, 2nd ed.
You are also encouraged to look at some of the recommended references below:
Barry, G.B. and A.M. Carleton, 2001: Synoptic and Dynamic Climatology. NY:
Routledge.
Geiger, Aron & Todhunter, 2003. The Climate Near the Ground, 6th ed. Rowman &
Littlefield.
Glantz, M.H., ed., 1988. Societal Responses to Regional Climate Change: Forecasting by
Analogy. Boulder, CO.: Westview.
Hartman, D., 1994. Global Physical Climatology. NY: Academic Press.
Lamb, H.H., 1982. Climate, History and the Modern World. London: Methuen.
Mather, J.R., 1974. Climatology: Fundamentals and Applications. New York: McGrawHill.
Oliver, J.E., 1973. Climate and Man’s Environment: An Introduction to Applied
Climatology. New York: Wiley.
_________, 1981. Climatology: Selected Applications. New York: Wiley.
Oke, T.R., 1988. Boundary Layer Climates, 2nd ed. NY: Methuen.
Robinson, PJ and A. Henderson-Sellers, 1999. Contemporary Climatology, 2nd ed.
Harlow, UK: Longman.
Rosenberg, N. et al., 1983. Microclimate: The Biological Environment, 2nd ed.
Thompson, R.D. and A. Perry, eds., 1997. Applied Climatology. London: Routledge.
There are several excellent journals that deal with climatology and the atmosphere,
including:
Atmospheric Environment
Journal of Climate
Journal of Applied Meteorology
International Journal of Climatology
Physical Geography
Weatherwise