EARTH SCIENCE 110 - METEOROLOGY
SPRING 2001
Instructor: Bruce D. Dod, Ph.D.
Office: 114 Willet Science Center
Office Hours: Mon. 1:00 - 2:00, Tues. & Thurs. 11:00 - 12:00 &
Tues. 1:40 - 2:55, Wed. 10:00 - 11:30
Phone: (478) 752-2599
Class Meetings: Lecture - Tues. and Thurs. 8:00 - 9:15
Room 110b, Willet Science Center
Laboratories - Sect. .01 - Mon. 2:00 - 4:40 PM
Room 103 Willet Science Center
Sect. .02 - Wed. 2:00 - 4:40 PM
Room 103 Willet Science Center
Text: C. Donald Ahrens; METEOROLOGY TODAY - AN INTRODUCTION
TO WEATHER, CLIMATE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, 6th Ed.,
West; 2000.
Material Chapters - 1 through 19.
Covered: Upon completion of this course, the successful
student will have demonstrating knowledge of the
following and the ability to do the following: the
origins of the atmosphere and its evolution, its
basic physics and chemistry, light properties,
seasons, moisture content (humidity, clouds,
precipitation), wind, pressure systems, air masses
and fronts, forecasting, and violent storms, air
pollution concerns and climatology classifications
and controls.
CLASS It is advised that you attend ALL lectures since some
Policy: of the material does not come from the text book. If
you should have to miss for some reason, be sure to
ask a colleague or the instructor what was covered on
that day and add it to your notes. Failure to
regularly attend class indicates an unwillingness to
partake in the normal educational process and such a
lack of participation may reflect on your grade.
TESTS: There will be administered, four times during the
semester, a test that will cover all the material
since the previous test. Each will be compiled from
textbook readings and other lecture material that may
not be included in the text. Laboratory information
will also be your responsibility for each exam.
Short answer questions will prevail (true-false,
multiple choice, matching, fill ins, etc.). One or
two open ended questions may also be included to
evaluate your writing skills and knowledge about a
particular topic. THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP EXAMS
GIVEN. Any test missed for ANY reason cannot be
rescheduled for another time, nor can any be taken
earlier than the announced time. Should one be
missed, however, your final exam grade will be
doubled to make up for the missed exam. If more than
one exam is missed, it will be entered as a zero on
the gradesheet. ANY exam missed must be accounted
for with an excuse from the Dean or physician. The
final exam will be similar in format to the regular
class tests; it will, however, be longer and
COMPREHENSIVE but carry no more weight than a regular
class exam. It cannot be missed. Students entering
any exam after the first person has left the room may
not take the test. Exam grades will not be changed
or revised after one week has elapsed since they were
returned.
As expected, struct adherence to the College's
academic misconduct policy will be instituted. Any
student failing to pass any exam or laboratory
exercise will be expected to meet with the professor
to discuss causes and possible remedies.
Students who believe that they possess disabilities
for which accommodation is required must so inform
the instructor at the close of their first class
meeting. They must then indicate the nature of their
disibility and the sort of reasonable accommodation
requested. The instructor will then refer you to the
office of the Dean of Students for evaluation,
documentation of your disability, and a recommenda-
tion as to the accommodation, if any, to be provided.
If you do not consult with the instructor and follow
up at the office of the Dean of Students, as provided
above, you will thereby waive any claim to a disabil-
ity and the right to any accommodation pertaining
thereto.
LABORATORIES: Labs are held once a week according to your
registration schedule (see also attached course
calendar). The work in lab may be in addition to
what was discussed in lecture, therefore expect
little similarity in some of the material covered.
Exercises are graded on a weekly basis and your final
lab average will be computed from these scores. If
you have to miss a lab for some excused reason,
arrange to trade with a colleague in another section
for the one occasion. All labs must be turned in
within one 24 hour period of your scheduled time to
get full grade consideration. Labs will be penalized
one letter grade per school day thereafter.
GRADING: Final grade = T1 + T2 + T3 + FINAL + Lab Avg
divided by 5. A=90+, B+=85-89, B=80-84, C+=75-79,
C=70-75, D=60-69. Bonus credits may be available by
attending video sessions, guest speaker seminars,
special homework assignments etc. if they arise.
LECTURE/CHAPTER SEQUENCE - ESC 110 - METEOROLOGY - SPG 2001
Ch. 1 - Introduction to Met'y........................Jan. 11
Origins of Solar System, Earth, Air, etc..... 16
Ch. 2 - Energy: Warming Earth & Air.................. 18
Continued.................................... 23
Ch. 2/3- Reasons for the Seasons & Temp. Var.......... 23
Continued.................................... 25
TEST Test I....................................... 30
Ch. 4 - Light, Color, Optics.........................Feb. 1
Ch. 4/5- Ch. 4 Cont. + Intro Humidity................. 6
Ch. 5/6- Ch. 5 Cont. + Intro Condensation............. 8
Ch. 6 - Condensation & Results....................... 13
Ch. 7 - Clouds & Stability........................... 15
Ch. 8 - Precipitation................................ 20
Continued.................................... 22
TEST Test II...................................... 27
Ch. 9 - Moving Atmosphere............................Mar. 1
Ch. 10 - Small Scale Disturbances..................... 6
Ch. 11 - Global Wind Systems.......................... 8
Ch. 12 - Air Masses & Fronts.......................... 20
Ch. 13 - Cyclonic Weather Systems..................... 22
Ch. 14 - Weather Forecasting.......................... 27
TEST Test III..................................... 29
Ch. 15 - Thunderstorms & Tornadoes....................Apr. 3
Continued.................................... 5
Ch. 16 - Hurricanes................................... 10
Continued.................................... 12
Ch. 17 - Air Pollution................................ 17
Ch. 19 - Climatology.................................. 19
Ch. 18 - Climate Changes.............................. 24
Continued.................................... 26
REVIEW Course review, synopsis, discussion..........May 1
TEST - Final Exam -- Tuesday, 2-5 pm................ 8
LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Lab 1 - Week of Jan. 22: THE NATURE OF SCIENCE (BLACK BOX)
Lab 2 - Week of Jan. 29: SOLAR ENERGY & SPECTRA
Lab 3 - Week of Feb. 5: ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE
Lab 4 - Week of Feb. 12: BOYLE'S LAW
Lab 5 - Week of Feb. 19: CHARLES' LAW
Lab 6 - Week of Feb. 26: FLUID DYNAMICS
Lab 7 - Week of Mar 5: DOPPLER RADAR
Lab 8 - Week of Mar. 19: MID-LATITUDE CYCLONES
Lab 9 - Week of Mar. 26: WEATHER MAPS I - SYMBOLS
Lab 10 - Week of Apr. 2: WEATHER MAPS II - SYNOPTIC MET'Y
Lab 11 - Week of Apr. 9: COMPUTER FORECASTS
Lab 12 - Week of Apr. 16: CLIMATES
ALL ATTEMPTS WILL BE MADE TO KEEP THIS SCHEDULE, HOWEVER EVENTS
MIGHT ARISE THAT WILL NECESSITATE DEVIATIONS. PLEASE BE AWARE OF
THIS AND ADJUST THE CALENDAR ACCORDINGLY.