GEG 113 - Meteorology

www.ltcconline.net/julian/meteor

PROFESSOR: Dr. Betsy Julian; Room D-105; 541-4660 x-313; julian@ltcc.edu

OFFICE HOURS: M 12:30-1:30, T 3 - 4:30, W 12:30 -1:30 and 5 - 5:30, Th 3 - 4

I’m also available by appointment or whenever you can find me

TEXT: The Atmosphere, Lutgens & Tarbuck (8th or 9th eds.)

dates	chapter	topic
4/4 & 6	1	Introduction and Atmosphere
4/11 & 13	1 & 2	Earth/Sun Patterns
4/18 & 201	2 & 3	Energy and Temperature
4/25	4	Moisture
4/27		Exam #1 (April 28 - drop deadline)
5/2 & 4	4	Moisture
5/9 & 11	5	Clouds
5/16 & 18	5 & 10	Precipitation and Thunderstorms
5/23 & 25	10	Fronts
5/30	6	Pressure
6/1		Exam #2 (June 2- withdrawal deadline)
6/6 & 8	6	Pressure & Wind
6/13 & 15	7 & 8	Global Systems
6/20		Final Exam

Grading:			Final Grade:
Exam 1	100 points
Exam 2	100 points	A	³495 points
Final exam	165 points	B	440-494 pts
Homework	45 points	C	385-439 pts
Quizzes	90 points	D	330-384 pts
Weather Journal	50 points
Total Points	550 points

CLASSROOM POLICIES:

Make-up work: Make-ups on exams must be approved prior to the absence. If you are sick on the day of the exam, you must contact Dr. Julian before the exam is scheduled. If you must be out of town on exam day, you must arrange to take the exam early. No quiz make-ups will be given since only the 6 best quiz grades are used.

Attendance: Although lecture attendance does not count for a percentage of your grade, it is very difficult for most students to pass unless they attend every class. Class discussions will cover topics not covered in the textbook, including local examples. Missing quizzes will hurt your grade.

Cell phones and pagers: Please turn off all cell phones and audio pagers before class.

Food and Beverages: While you are welcome to bring food and drink into the class, please be considerate of others. Don’t bring any food that is excessively noisy or smelly.

WEATHER JOURNAL

In order to appreciate and understand the variations in weather patterns, clouds, wind, precipitation and humidity, it is important to make first hand observations of the events and compare these observations with the empirical data reported by weather stations. Each student will keep a journal for six weeks that will contain two sets of data:

• personal observations - Five days each week the student will record personal weather observations. These observations may be recorded as words or pictures, and will include information about temperature, clouds, wind and precipitation. It is most useful if the observations are made at about the same time each day.
• numerical data - On three days each week, the student will also record the following data: high temperature, low temperature, relative humidity, barometric reading, and amount of precipitation. This information is available from the LTCC weather station, the Weather Channel, the evening newscast, the newspaper, or a variety of online sources. Although the student chooses the method of presenting this data, it must be neat and easy to understand.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To successfully complete this course, the student will:

· analyze the composition and structure of the atmosphere

· investigate the causes of seasonal, daily, and latitudinal variations in temperature and hours of sunlight.

· analyze the energy produced by the sun and Earth

· compare the different phases of water and the processes that relate them

· examine the different types of moisture and precipitation and the ways to quantify them

· compare the different types of clouds, their formation and significance

· analyze the major global wind systems and how they cause local climate differences

· examine the causes of local wind systems

· analyze the movement, pressure, precipitation and temperature changes associate with frontal systems

· analyze weather maps and weather prediction techniques

· maintain a weather journal recording measured data personal observations for the duration of the course

HELPFUL HINTS:

· Come to class!

· Review material regularly - multiple short study sessions over a period of weeks are more effective than a single “cram” the night before an exam. Even the few minutes before class can be used to review the previous lecture.

· Read the chapter before coming to class.

· Form a study group. Each member should study material on their own before meeting with the group for discussion and comparison.

· Write out definitions and answers to essay questions

· Ask questions in class.

· Utilize web page to get notes, study guides...

· Combine class notes, textbook, web materials, and old exams when studying - each provides a different perspective.

· Pay attention to the news and current events to see how they relate to Meteorology.

· Do the homework assignments and weather journal. They can really help (or hurt) your grade.

OFFICE HOURS:

My office hours are listed on the front page of this syllabus. These are hours when I will be in my office. You may drop by or call to raise questions or concerns about the course, discuss your grade, or just to chat. If you need to speak with me about the course but cannot come to my office during the posted hours, I will make an appointment to meet with you at another time. Don’t forget e-mail; this is a very efficient way to ask simple questions.

HONESTY POLICY

While most students are basically honest, some students are tempted to improve their grade by copying information from neighbors, books or other resources during exams and quizzes. This is dishonest and will not be tolerated. At a minimum, any student caught cheating will receive a "0" on the assignment, and will not be allowed to replace that grade with a higher one or with extra credit.

In addition, students will be required to write and sign an honor statement on each assignment, stating

"On my honor, I have neither given nor received any aid on this exam (or quiz)."

Signature of Student