SCIENCE 351A (formerly 360C) Introduction to Weather Dynamics (5 Units) Syllabus Fall quarter 2009 Instructor: Dr. Jorge Talamantes Rivera Science III, room 305 phone: 661.654.2335 fax: 661.654.2693 email: jtalamantes [at] csub [dot] edu Office hours: See http://www.csub.edu/~jtalamantes Meeting times: None -- this is an on-line class. Meeting place: None. Availability: I check my WebCT email and discussions with some frequency throughout the day during the week, and less frequently on weekends. I will not respond to students during furlough days. Course Text: Weather Studies - Textbook and Investigations Manual 2009-2010, by Joseph M. Moran. American Meteorological Society (2009). ISBN 978-1-878220-93-6 Catalog This is an introductory course with a large on-line Description: component on the fundamentals of atmospheric science. Current weather data are accessed via the Internet, and learning activities are keyed to the day's weather. General topics are studied such as how one characterizes various phenomena and meteorological effects, and how these are measured. This course may not be used to satisfy physics major or minor requirements. Meets the general education upper division theme I requirement. Prerequisite: completion of lower division physical science and mathematics general education requirements. AMS Website: Students will have access to the American Meteorological Society website for the course. The username and password will be released to students via WebCT. The website contains useful resources such as surface weather stations symbols, satellite pictures, practice quizzes, etc. Reading: Class notes will be posted on WebCT. These notes come largely (but certainly not exclusively) from the textbook, and are not meant to cover absolutely everything in the book. The notes simply point out some salient features of the class material. The AMS has provided Power Point presentations associated with all the chapters in the textbook. These presentations will also be available through WebCT, but this is not required reading, The relevant chapters in the textbook (see the Schedule of Activities), as well as the class notes are absolutely required reading. Discussions: Questions regarding class material must be posted using the threaded discussions tool in WebCT. Please use the mail facility on WebCT only for private matters. Homework: There are two Investigations associated with each chapter, e.g. Investigation 1A and Investigation 1B. See Investigations Manual. In addition, each Investigation has two parts -- the Investigation itself (e.g. Investigation 1A), and an ``Applications'' part (e.g. Investigation 1A: Applications.) Students are responsible for both parts. (But students are not responsible for the ``Current Weather Studies'' part, which is accessible through the AMS website.) Thus, for example, the homework for chapter 1 includes the following four parts: i. Investigation 1A: Surface Air Pressure Patterns; ii. Investigation 1A: Applications; iii. Investigation 1B: Air Pressure and Wind; iv. Investigation 1B: Applications. Students will do their Investigations, and when they are finished, they will submit their answers electronically (through the class's WebCT site) for grading. Investigations are due on Fridays (see schedule below). Students *must* submit their answers electronically before 11:55 PM on the due date. Correct answers will be released the following day. See schedule of activities for homework due dates. No late homework will be accepted. Two of the Investigations can be missed without penalty. For example, a student can miss Investigation 1B (which includes both Investigation 1B: Air Pressure and Wind, and Investigation 1B: Applications) and Investigation 4A (which includes both Investigation 4A: Temperature and Air Mass Advection, and Investigation 4A: Applications). (Alternatively, the two lowest scores in the Investigations will be dropped.) Quizzes: There will be weekly 15-minute chapter quizzes to be taken via WebCT. No make-up quizzes will be given. Quizzes are multiple choice tests of ten questions each. See the AMS website for (self-scored) practice quizzes. Quizzes are on Mondays any time (see schedule below). Students *must* submit their answers electronically before 11:55 PM. Correct answers will be released the following day. Exams: There will be two 60-minute exams to be taken via WebCT. See the Schedule of Activities. The format will be the same as the quizzes, but will cover four chapters each. Dates to keep 10/02/09 - last day to withdraw without a "W". in mind: 10/30/09 - last day to withdraw for serious and compelling reason. 12/01/09 - Grades available. Final grade Quizzes: 20% determination: Exam 1: 10% Exam 2: 10% Homework: 60% This class is not graded on a curve. The following relation will be used for assigning a final grade: 90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C 60-69% D 00-59% F Behavior: *** You absolutely *must* use a polite, considerate, and appropriate tone in your Discussions postings. *** You *must* follow proper email etiquette *** See http://www.csub.edu/~jtalamantes/email_etiquette.txt *** Students who do not adhere to these rules will be dropped from the course. Anyone found cheating will automatically get an F in the course. Schedule of activities: NOTE: This schedule is subject to change Date Activity and/or Reading Assignment ** Week 1 ** M 09/14/2009 Introduction to the course. Chapter 1: Monitoring the Weather Weather and Climate Sources of Weather Information Weather Systems and Weather Maps Describing the State of the Atmosphere W 09/16 Weather Satellite Imagery Weather Radar Sky Watching F 09/18 Investigation 1A (both parts) due Investigation 1B (both parts) due Submit answers to Investigations anytime before 11:55 PM Correct answers released on Saturday ** Week 2 ** M 09/21 Chapter 2: Atmosphere: Origin, Composition and Structure Evolution of the Atmosphere Investigating the Atmosphere Chapter 1 quiz. Take the quiz anytime but answers *must* be submitted before 11:55 PM. Correct answers released on Tuesday. W 09/23 Monitoring the Atmosphere Temperature Profile of the Atmosphere The Ionosphere and the Aurora F 09/25 Investigation 2A due Investigation 2B due Faculty furlough day ** Week 3 ** M 09/28 Chapter 3: Solar and Terrestrial Radiation Electromagnetic Spectrum Radiation Laws Input of Solar Radiation Solar Radiation and the Atmosphere Stratospheric Ozone Shield Chapter 2 quiz W 09/30 Solar Radiation and Earth's Surface Global Solar Radiation Budget Outgoing Infrared Radiation Monitoring Radiation F 10/02 Investigation 3A due Investigation 3B due Last day to withdraw without a ``W'' ** Week 4 ** M 10/05 Chapter 4: Heat, Temperature, and Atmospheric Circulation Distinguishing Temperature and Heat Heat Transfer Processes Thermal Response and Specific Heat Heat Imbalance: Atmosphere versus Earth's Surface Chapter 3 quiz W 10/07 Heat Imbalance: Tropics versus Middle and High Latitudes Why Weather? Variation of Air Temperature F 10/09 Investigation 4A due Investigation 4B due ** Week 5 ** M 10/12 Chapter 4 quiz W 10/14 Watch video ``Chasing el Ninno''. You need QuickTime to view Th 10/15 Faculty furlough day F 10/16 Exam 1. Chapters 1-4, and video ``... el Ninno'' Students must submit answers before 11:55 PM Correct answers released on Saturday 10/17 ** Week 6 ** M 10/19 Chapter 5: Air Pressure Defining Air Pressure Air Pressure Measurement Air Pressure Units Variation in Air Pressure with Altitude Faculty furlough day W 10/21 Horizontal Variations in Air Pressure Highs and Lows The Gas Law Expansional Cooling and Compressional Warming F 10/23 Investigation 5A due Investigation 5B due ** Week 7 ** M 10/26 Chapter 6: Humidity, Saturation, and Stability Global Water Cycle How Humid is it? Monitoring Water Vapor Chapter 5 quiz W 10/28 How Air Becomes Saturated Atmospheric Stability Lifting Processes F 10/30 Investigation 6A due Investigation 6B due Last day to withdraw for serious and compelling reason ** Week 8 ** M 11/02 Chapter 7: Clouds, Precipitation, and Weather Radar Cloud Formation Cloud Classification Fog Precipitation Processes Chapter 6 quiz W 11/04 Forms of Precipitation Acid Deposition Weather Radar: Locating Precipitation Measuring Precipitation Faculty furlough day F 11/06 Investigation 7A due Investigation 7B due ** Week 9 ** M 11/09 Chapter 15: Climate and Climate Change Earth's Climate System Climate Boundary Conditions Global Climate Patterns The Climatic Record Chapter 7 quiz W 11/11 Holiday -- Veteran's Day Th 11/12 Lessons of the Climate Record Causes of Climate Change The Climate Future Potential Impacts of Global Climate Change F 11/13 Investigation 15A due Investigation 15B due ** Week 10 ** M 11/16 Chapter 15 quiz T 11/17 Faculty furlough day W 11/18 Watch video ``An Inconvenient Truth'' You need QuickTime to view F 11/20 Second exam. Chapters 5-7 & 15, and video ``An Inconvenient...'' Students must submit answers before 11:55 PM Correct answers released on Saturday 11/21 M 12/01 Grades available