WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERISTY
Hawaii Campus
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCES
Mission statement
Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging,
learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success, lifelong
learning, and service to God and humankind.
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: GEOL 3302 – Meteorology - Lecture
TERM: Summer 2012
INSTRUCTOR:
Email Address:
Phone Numbers:
Availability:
July 3rd - Sept 4th
Mr. Bob Allen (Adjunct Professor)
oldthor1@gmail.com
Work (808) 477-7861, Cell (808) 382-4992(non-work hours)
Before or after class (prescheduled), or by appointment.
CLASS TIME and LOCATION: Tuesdays, 5:30PM – 9:30 PM Mililani Campus
Students are expected to have reviewed this syllabus and completed the homework for Lesson
1 at the beginning of the first class. A quiz may be given at the start of any lesson, including
Lesson 1.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: The composition of the atmosphere and the energy
transformations which take place in the various atmospheric arenas are discussed in detail.
Weather analysis, and climatology are also covered.
PREREQUISITE: None
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: Understanding Weather and Climate, Sixth Edition, Aguado,
Edward; Burt, James E; 2013
LAB BOOK: None.
INTERNET
SUPPLEMENTAL
INFORMATION: Jetstream, NWS On-Line Training
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/jetstream/matrix.htm
Univ of Wyoming Weather Website http://weather.uwyo.edu/
National Weather Service Forecast Office, Honolulu
http://www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/
NOAA Weather and Climate Sites
http://www.lib.noaa.gov/docs/weathersites.html
Golden Gate Weather Service (weather model forecast data)
http://ggweather.com/loops/ncep_loops.htm
National Weather Service national map and data
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
COURSE OUTCOME COMPETENCIES (COURSE OBJECTIVES). The student will:
1. Know the composition and chemical properties of the atmosphere to include:
a. Know the role played by CO2, methane, H2O and O3
b. Know the characteristics of the troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere
c. Layers, properties (temperature, pressure, moisture) and characteristics of the
atmosphere to include ionosphere
d. Gases (permanent and variable) how they vary and role they play
2. Understand the Earth’s global heat budget and mechanisms of heat transfer and
atmospheric circulation to include:
a. Understand the blackbody energy curve (Fig 2.7).
b. Understand the term “selective absorption”.
c. Understand the concept of latent heat and specific heat capacity.
d. Understand the influence of latitude, altitude, surface and terrain on temperature.
e. Understand the concepts of energy and radiation, properties of the sun’s electromagnetic radiation, and how the sun’s radiation curve compares to the earth’s
radiation curve
f. Understand earth’s dependence on its orbit around the sun in driving the earth’s
energy balance, how and why the amount of energy from the sun varies by
latitude, time of the year and from locale to locale. Understand the causes of the
earth’s annual seasons.
g. Understand how excesses and deficits in thermal energy are redistributed and how
the earth’s circulation pattern, both in the atmosphere and the ocean, contribute to
the heat transfer and balance.
h. Understand and describe the processes that go on in the earth’s atmosphere that
affect energy coming from the sun and energy being radiated by the earth—in
short the earth’s energy balance system.
i. Be able to draw the location of the major semi-permanent pressure systems that
drive the earth’s atmospheric circulation and ocean currents.
j. Describe variabilities in temperature on the local, regional, continental and global
scale, the affect of ocean and land on the variability and how/why temperatures
vary from day to night.
3. Interpret quantitative data relevant to weather analysis, including air temperature,
pressure, and humidity readings to include:
a. Understand the following terms, their importance and how they are measured:
temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, visibility.
b. Understand the role of pressure (both horizontal and vertical) in determining
wind.
c. Be able to draw the general surface wind patterns associated with High and Low
Pressure Systems in the northern and southern hemispheres throughout the world.
d. Understand the concept of Coriolis Force and what causes it.
e. Explain the concept of fronts and air masses and how they are recognized and
depicted on weather charts.
f. Be able to look at surface and upper air data and recognize pressure patterns
(Highs, Lows, Jetstreams, frontal systems)
g. Be able to draw the direction of winds around High and Low pressure systems in
the northern and southern hemisphere
h. Understand the concept of global and local wind patterns and how they affect
weather
i. Recognize various scales of weather phenomena and relate them to observed
weather elements
4. Understand the physical processes behind the development of clouds, thunderstorms,
tornadoes, and hurricanes to include:
a. Be able to explain the concept of atmospheric stability.
b. Be able to explain the role of water vapor in stability and cloud formation, and the
role of latent heat and changes of state in water between gas (vapor), liquid
(water) and solid (ice).
c. Understand lifting processes in the atmosphere and how they affect air parcels;
understand the changes in temperature, pressure and humidity that occurs when
air is lifted
d. Describe the three stages in the life cycle of a thunderstorm and characteristics
associated with each stage
e. Understand the scales, in both time and space, of tornadic thunderstorms and the
characteristics of thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes
5. Be familiar with concepts of global climates and the affects of human populations on the
atmosphere.
a. Understand the major climate controls on the earth’s weather (influence of land
and oceans, location and winds associated with semi-permanent High and Low
pressure systems worldwide.
b. Recognize that shifts in the normal ocean and atmospheric patterns can affect
weather patterns around the globe (example, El Niño and La Niña).
c. Understand the nature of the earth’s energy balance and recognize factors that can
alter the balance and drive changes in the climate
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: The University expects students to make class
attendance a priority. If a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of that student
to notify the instructor immediately and to acquire the notes from another student for the
class(es) missed. Attendance will be taken and will be factored into students' evaluations. If you
miss class, you should notify the instructor (preferably via e-mail) of your status and reason for
missing class. If a student misses a class, homework assignments are due to the instructor the
start of the next class.
DISABILITY STATEMENT: “In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person
with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to
discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of
Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be
contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291- 3765. Documentation of a
disability must accompany any request for accommodations.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Students will be evaluated on the basis of a mid-term exam, a
term project, attendance/participation, and a final exam.
Note: You must have a valid reason for missing an exam. Missed exams must be made up
within 2 days. Consult with the instructor immediately (preferably before the fact) should you
require a make-up exam.
GRADING:
A. University Grading System
A
100-90
B
89-80
C
79-70
D
69-60
F
below 60
I
incomplete*
W
withdrawal
* A grade of incomplete is changed if the deficiency is made up by
midterm of the next regular semester; otherwise, it becomes an "F".
This grade is given only if circumstances beyond the students' control
prevented completion of work during the semester enrolled and
attendance requirements have been met.
B. Computation of Final Grade
Mid-Term Exam (Lesson 5)
Class Participation (includes pop quizzes)
Term Project (due start of Lesson 8)
Final Exam (Lesson 10)
30 %
15 %
15 %
40 %
Week/Lsn
1
COURSE SCHEDULE
Subject and Homework
(July 3rd ) Introduction/Atmospheric Structure and Composition
Homework: Read Chapter 1, Review Questions 4 - 7, 12 - 14, 17, 23 - 24.
2
(July 10th ) Heating the atmosphere and the Seasons
Homework: Read Chapter 2, Review Questions 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 16.
3
(July 17th ) Energy Balance and Air temperature
Homework: Read Chapter 3, Review Questions 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,
and 20.
4
(July 24th ) Atmosphere Moisture and Stability
Homework: Read Chapter 5, Review Questions 1, 8 – 13, 20, 24.
5
(July 31st ) Mid Term Exam (material from Lessons 1 through 4)
Condensation, Clouds and Thunderstorms
Homework: Read Chapter 6, Review Questions 1, 2, 7 - 10, 15, 16
Read Chapter 11, page 307 – 325, Review Questions 2, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16.
6
(August 7th ) Precipitation, Sensors, Weather Networks
Homework: Read Chapter 7, Review Questions 1, 5, 8 - 10.
7
(August 14th ) Atmospheric Pressure and winds
Homework: Read Chapter 4, Review Questions 1, 3, 4, 16, and 17. Critical
Thinking: Question 1.
8
(August 21st ) Atmospheric Circulation: Global and Local Wind Patterns
Homework: Read Chapter 8, Review Questions 1, 4, 6, 9, 16, and 20. Critical
Thinking Question 9.
9
(August 28th ) Air Masses & Fronts/ Mid-Latitude Cyclones
Homework: Read Chapter 9, Review Questions 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8.
Homework: Read Chapter 10 pages 281-285 and 294-297; Review Question 2.
10
(Sept 4th ) Final Exam
Check On-Line Course on WBU Blackboard Twice a Week
Students should log into the course on Blackboard before the first lesson and check Blackboard
at least two nights a week for announcements and supplemental information/data to ensure they
are prepared for the next class.
Homework Assignment and Lesson Reading
Homework and lesson reading assignments are to be completed before the start of class for
which they are assigned. For example, reading and homework questions associated with Lesson
1 are to be completed before the night of Lesson 1 class and are part of preparation for the
Lesson 1 class. This ensures students are prepared to participate orally and at the blackboard and
take test/quizzes. Power Point slides presented in class will be posted on the Blackboard under
the respective lesson number after that lesson is presented. Students should review those slides
as part of test preparation.