Course title
GPH 212 and 214Pre-requisite
Successful completion of physical geography with a c or better or with instructor approvalCourse description
This course is a dual enrollment course though Scottsdale Community College. It is identical to what is taught at SCC with the exception of it being taught at Saguaro High School.
This course will be offered second semester for students who have completed GPH 111 Physical Geography; (which is pending approval on your website) and is also a dual enrollment course though Scottsdale Community College.
Course Description: To develop an understanding of earth's weather and climate. This includes examination of: atmospheric processes; heat exchange; and atmospheric moisture; general; regional; and local circulation's; cyclonic and severe storms; climate regions; and evaluation of how humans relate to and alter their physical environment and the possible climatic implications of such change.
This course introduces students to fundamentals of weather and climate; including basic atmospheric processes and elements. Topics include real-time weather maps via internet links; storms and monsoons; ozone depletion; greenhouse effect; El Nino; etc. Prerequisite: successful completion of physical geography with a c or better or with instructor approval.
Syllabus:
TEXTBOOK:
Ahrens; Meteorology Today; An Introduction to Weather; Climate; and the Environment; West Pub. Co.; Ninth Edition; 2009 (ISBN 978-0-495-55573-5).
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance is required. You are permitted a maximum of three (3) absences. Absences in excess of this will result in a failing (F or Y) grade.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE COURSE:
1.Be on time for class.
2.Be willing to contribute to class discussions; but do not disrupt the class by talking to others around you.
3.Cell Phones should be off or set to vibrate. Texting or other related disturbances during class will result in a ten (10) point deduction from your grade per event. These activities may also result in your withdrawal from the course.
4.Keep a notebook for the syllabus and other materials given out during the course.
5.Follow the course outline so that you know when quizzes and exams are scheduled.
WITHDRAWAL POLICIES:
Please refer to current catalog for withdrawal policies and procedures. If you do not follow the correct procedure for withdrawing; you will receive an "F"; which can only be removed by retaking the course! NEVER WALK AWAY FROM A CLASS WITHOUT INITIATING THE PROPER WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES!
EXAMINATIONS AND QUIZZES: (See course outline for dates)
Three (3) 100-point lecture examinations 300 points
Four (4) 50-point terminology quizzes 200 points
Final comprehensive examination 100 points
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS FOR THE COURSE 600 points
GRADING SCALE: 90 - 100 = A 60 - 69 = D 80 - 89 = B below 60 = F 70 - 79 = C
NOTE: Your lowest lecture exam score will be dropped. Your final grade will be calculated from the remaining 600 points
MAKE-UP POLICY: Make-ups will only be given to those people who have official absences*. Remember; you can always take exams and quizzes ahead of schedule if you know you are going to be absent.
NOTE:
1.Unannounced quizzes/exercises are given at random during the semester. These points are not part of the required total. (These points are not part of the required total. They are free points you can use to raise your grade.)
2.Quiz and Exam papers are not returned. A grade sheet showing all your scores; including the most recent exam or quiz score; will be provided. These will usually be provided by the next class meeting. You may set up a time to look over any exams or quizzes taken during the semester.
3.Keep all papers in case you want to question a grade.
4.NO CELL PHONES visible during exams and quizzes. Phones should be off and out of sight. This should be done BEFORE entering the classroom. If a phone is ?seen?; it will result in IMMEDIATE withdrawal from the course with a FAILING ?Y? grade.
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS:
Extra Credit lecture questions will be available throughout the semester. They will appear most weeks on the course Blackboard site. In general they will be short answer questions that are worth five (5) points each; and based on recent lecture materials.
HONORS STUDENTS:
Those students enrolled in an honors program section will be required to complete an additional project (100 points). The nature of this assignment will be discussed in consultation with me during office hours. Please see me within the first week so that we may schedule a meeting time.
BLACKBOARD: The course site will have periodic announcements; reminders; occasional lecture powerpoints; and other information posted throughout the semester. Weekly lecture questions will also be available here (See ?Extra Credit Assignments? above).
FINAL EXAMINATION:
Attendance at the final is required. No early exams will be given. If you do not take the final; your grade for the course will be an ?F?. This grade can be changed if you take the final during the following semester. However; a 20-point Penalty will be assessed against the grade you earn.
GENERAL CONDUCT: The expectation is that you will conduct yourself in a responsible; mature; and academically honest manner. Students who exhibit improper conduct are subject to Disciplinary action as explained in the Scottsdale Community College General Catalog and Student Handbook. A student who is caught cheating on a test; quiz; or lab exercise will receive a grade of zero for that test and disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with SCC policies.
NOTE: I reserve the right to deviate from the course outline if it becomes necessary. You will be notified ahead of time if there are changes.
INTRODUCTION TO METEOROLOGY LECTURE SCHEDULE (Calendar will be changed to reflect the dates/weeks of spring semester)
PART I: ATMOSPHERIC STRUCTURE/ENERGY/TEMPERATURE
WEEK #1 Course outline and procedures
8/23-8/27 Geography as a Discipline
Earth/Sun Relationships
Textbook: Preface
WEEK #2 Origin; Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
8/30-9/3 Textbook: Chapter 1
WEEK #3 LABOR DAY (9/6): NO CLASS
9/6-9/10 Energy and Radiation
Textbook: Chapters 2
WEEK #4 Temperature: Phenomena; Controls; and Measurement
9/13-9/17 Textbook: Chapter 3
PART II: MOISTURE CONCEPTS/PRESSURE AND WIND SYSTEMS
WEEK #5 Moisture Concepts and Humidity
9/20-9/24 Textbook: Chapters 4
TERMINOLOGY QUIZ #1 (Chapters 1; 2)(Thursday; 9/23)
WEEK #6 Clouds and Air Masses
9/27-10/1 Adiabatic Lapse Rates
Atmospheric Stability and Cloud Development
Textbook: Chapters 5; 6
EXAM #1: Atmosphere; Energy; and Temperature (Chapters 1 - 3)
(Thursday; 9/30)
WEEK #7 Precipitation Processes
10/4-10/8 Textbook: Chapter 7
TERMINOLOGY QUIZ #2 (Chapters 3; 5; 6; 7)(Thursday 10/7)
WEEK #8 Pressure/Winds
10/11-10/15 Textbook: Chapter 8
WEEK #9 Idealized Global Wind Systems
10/18-10/22 Primary Wind Systems
Textbook: Chapter 8;10
WEEK #10 Secondary/Tertiary Winds
10/25-10/29 Textbook: Chapter 9
PART III: CYCLONES AND SEVERE STORMS
WEEK #11 Tertiary Winds cont.
11/1-11/5 Air Masses
Textbook: Chapter 9; 11
TERMINOLOGY QUIZ #3 (Chapters 8 - 11) (Thursday 11/5)
WEEK #12 VETERANS DAY OBSERVED (Thursday; 11/11): NO CLASS!
11/8-11/12Middle Latitude Cyclones Weather Forecasting
Textbook: Chapter 12 13
EXAM #2: MOISTURE CONCEPTS; PRESSURE AND WIND SYSTEMS (Chapters 4 - 10)
(Tuesday 11/9)
WEEK #13 Weather Forecasting cont.
11/15-11/19 Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Textbook: Chapter 13; 14
WEEK #14 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!! (11/25-11/26)
11/22-11/27 Thunderstorms and Tornadoes cont.
Textbook: Chapter 14
WEEK #15 Hurricanes
11/29-12/3 Climate Change
Textbook: Chapter 15; 16
TERMINOLOGY QUIZ #4: (Chapters 12; 13; 15; 16) (Thursday 12/2)
WEEK #16 Climate Classification
12/6-12/10 Textbook: Chapter 17
EXAM #3: CYCLONES AND SEVERE STORMS
(Chapters 11 ? 17) (Thursday 12/9)
WEEK #17 FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
Laboratory Outline:
Lab 1 - The Atmosphere
Lab 2 - The Earth-Atmosphere System
Lab 3 - Radiation and Energy Transfer
Lab 4 - Daily Temperature Cycle
Lab 5 - Atmospheric Moisture
Lab 6 ? Atmospheric Stability and Clouds
Lab 7 - Air Masses and Fronts
Lab 8 - Surface Map
Lab 9 - Radiosondes and Soundings
Lab 10 - Soundings and Stability
Lab 11 - Upper-Air Analysis
Lab 12 - Thunderstorms and Their Environment
Lab 13 - Severe Thunderstorms: A Case Study
Lab 14 - Hurricane Tracks and Forecasts
Lab 15 - Weather Forecasting: Precipitation Type
Lab 16 - Climate Statistics
Sample Lab:
Wind and Pressure;
This laboratory will introduce the fundamental concepts involved in the dynamics of the earth?s wind and pressure systems ranging from global air movement to local seasonal breezes.
1. Using arrows inside the circle draw the idealized generals. Wind Circulation model on the diagram below (refer to your lecture notes). Identify (label) the following: polar high; sub polar low; sub-tropical High; itcz; tradewinds; westerlies; polar easterlies; doldrums; and horse latitudes.
2. The coriolis force causes objects to be deflected to the _______________
A. Northern hemisphere and to the _______________ in the southern hemisphere.
B. Due to the coriolis effect; the major ocean currents in the northern hemisphere flow clockwise or counterclockwise?
3. On the diagrams below indicate by letter (h or l in the center of the circle) the high and low pressure centers and by adding arrows to the ends of the curved lines show the wind direction for each situation and label if the air is divergent or convergent on the line below each diagram.
Geostrophic winds: these are upper level winds (around 16;000 feet) that result from the interaction between pressure and coriolis force and are not influenced by surface friction. Due to this interaction geostrophic winds blow parallel to the isobars and not across them.
Surface winds: winds near the surface (below 5;000 feet) are influenced by the friction of the drag from the earth?s surface reducing the speed of the wind. The coriolis effect is reduced due to slower wind speed causing the air to function more closely with the pressure gradient so winds tend to flow across isobars from high to low pressure.
4. Using arrows; interpret the pressure maps of the United States by drawing in the expected wind directions relative to the isobars for each situation. Refer to the paragraphs above.
For the following questions (#6/7/8) refer to the world January and July mean surface atmospheric pressure maps on page 5.
6. In the equatorial region there is little change in solar heating throughout the year; therefore atmospheric pressure is almost constant. What is the mean value of surface pressure for?
January/July
7. The sthp's shift northward and southward during the year in both hemispheres. Explain why they shift?
8. On the world pressure maps page 5; using large bold arrows indicate the direction of air flow for the winter and summer Asian monsoons.
9. Explain why the strong high pressure system over central Asia in the winter is replaced by a low pressure in the summer.
(two maps are given for students to answer the above questions on)
In the circles below indicate the possible temperature and pressure for each of the situations of land and sea breeze. (For temperature use hot or cold; for pressure use high or low)
Then draw an arrow to show the wind direction for a sea breeze and a
Land breeze
11. What causes land and sea breezes?
12. The instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure is a:
13. Define windward:
14. Chinook is an example of what type of wind?
School Country
United StatesSchool state
ArizonaSchool city
ScottsdaleHigh school
Saguaro High SchoolSchool Address
8500 E. Jackrabbit RoadSchool zip code
85250Requested competency code
Lab ScienceDate submitted
Approved
YesApproved competency code
- LGEO
- Geology