SCIENCE 351A Introduction to Weather Dynamics (5 Units) Syllabus Fall quarter 2011 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: MWF 10:55 AM - 12:15 PM Meeting place: DDH G107 Blackboard: Enrolled students must self-enroll in Blackboard. They will be given a code in class to do this. Course Text: Weather Studies - Textbook and Investigations Manual 2011-2012 and Summer 2012. American Meteorological Society. ISBN 978-1-878220-44-8. This is a ``bundle'' with the textbook (Weather Studies: Introduction to Atmospheric Science, by Joseph M. Moran. Fourth edition) and the 2011-2012 and Summer 2012 Investigations Manual. 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 Blackboard. The website contains useful resources such as surface weather stations symbols, satellite images, practice quizzes, etc. Reading: Class notes will be posted on Blackboard. 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 Blackboard, but this is not required reading. The relevant chapters in the textbook (see the Schedule of Activities), as well as the class notes are required reading. Attendance: This is required. Email: Please use the Blackboard messages utility for all matters regarding this class. Please do not use my regular CSUB (FirstClass) email account. Homework: This refers to the exercises in the Investigations Manual. Two such exercises are due at the end of most weeks. See Schedule of Activities. Further Details will be provided in class. The two lowest scores will be dropped from the total grade tabulation, but ** there will be no homework make up, or late homework accepted ** Quizzes: There will be weekly 15-minute chapter quizzes to be taken via Blackboard. 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. Most quizzes are on Mondays (see schedule below). Students can take the quizzes any time, but they *must* submit their answers electronically before 11:59 PM. Correct answers will be released the following day. The lowest score will be dropped from the total grade tabulation, but ** there will be no quizzes make up ** Exams: There will be two 60-minute exams to be taken in class. The format will be the same as the quizzes, but will cover four chapters each plus other material. See the Schedule of Activities. Paper: This is a five- to seven-page paper (1 1/2 spacing, 12 font maximum) due the last week of classes. Details to be provided in class. Final grade Quizzes: 20% determination: Exam 1: 10% Exam 2: 10% Homework: 45% Paper: 15% 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 Plus and minus (+/-) grades will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor. 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. *** Laptops, iPads, etc. are not allowed in class, unless you have a note from the Disabilities Services Office. *** Cell phones must be turned off during class. Violation of this rule will result in a reduction in the final grade. 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 09/12/2011 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 09/14 Weather Satellite Imagery Weather Radar Sky Watching F 09/16 Investigation 1A (both parts) due Investigation 1B (both parts) due Submit answers to Investigations anytime before 11:59 PM Correct answers released on Saturday ** Week 2 ** M 09/19 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 11:59 PM. Correct answers released on Tuesday. W 09/21 Monitoring the Atmosphere Temperature Profile of the Atmosphere The Ionosphere and the Aurora F 09/23 Investigation 2A due Investigation 2B due Correct answers released on Saturday ** Week 3 ** M 09/26 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 09/28 Solar Radiation and Earth's Surface Global Solar Radiation Budget Outgoing Infrared Radiation Monitoring Radiation F 09/30 Investigation 3A due Investigation 3B due Correct answers released on Saturday Last day to withdraw without a ``W'' ** Week 4 ** M 10/03 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 10/05 Heat Imbalance: Tropics versus Middle and High Latitudes Why Weather? Variation of Air Temperature F 10/07 Investigation 4A due Investigation 4B due Correct answers released on Saturday ** Week 5 ** M 10/10 Question and Answer period Chapter 4 quiz W 10/12 Watch video ``Chasing el Ninno''. You need QuickTime to view at home F 10/14 Exam 1. Chapters 1-4, and video ``... el Ninno'' ** Week 6 ** M 10/17 Chapter 5: Air Pressure Defining Air Pressure Air Pressure Measurement Air Pressure Units Variation in Air Pressure with Altitude W 10/19 Horizontal Variations in Air Pressure Highs and Lows The Gas Law Expansional Cooling and Compressional Warming F 10/21 Investigation 5A due Investigation 5B due Correct answers released on Saturday ** Week 7 ** M 10/24 Chapter 6: Humidity, Saturation, and Stability Global Water Cycle How Humid is it? Monitoring Water Vapor Chapter 5 quiz W 10/26 How Air Becomes Saturated Atmospheric Stability Lifting Processes F 10/28 Investigation 6A due Investigation 6B due Correct answers released on Saturday Last day to withdraw for serious and compelling reason ** Week 8 ** M 10/31 Chapter 7: Clouds, Precipitation, and Weather Radar Cloud Formation Cloud Classification Fog Precipitation Processes Chapter 6 quiz W 11/02 Forms of Precipitation Acid Deposition Weather Radar: Locating Precipitation Measuring Precipitation F 11/04 Investigation 7A due Investigation 7B due Correct answers released on Saturday ** Week 9 ** M 11/07 Chapter 15: Climate and Climate Change Earth's Climate System Climate Boundary Conditions Global Climate Patterns The Climatic Record Chapter 7 quiz W 11/09 Lessons of the Climate Record Causes of Climate Change The Climate Future Potential Impacts of Global Climate Change F 11/11 Holiday -- Veterans Day -- Campus closed ** Week 10 ** M 11/14 Investigation 15A due Investigation 15B due Correct answers released on Tuesday W 11/16 Watch video ``An Inconvenient Truth'' You need QuickTime to view at home Chapter 15 quiz F 11/18 Second exam. Chapters 5-7 & 15, and video ``An Inconvenient...'' M 11/21 Term paper due M 11/28 Grades available