Weather and Climate

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
GEOG 1110
Discontinued
No
Course Code
GEOG 1110
Descriptive
Weather and Climate
Department
Geography and the Environment
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
4.00
Start Date
End Term
201810
PLAR
Yes
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
28
Contact Hours
Lecture: 2 hrs. per week / semester Labs/field work: 3 hrs. per week / semester
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Field Experience
Learning Activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:  lecture, labs, field work, analysis and interpretation of surface weather charts and satellite images, slides, videos, individual and/or team projects and small group discussions.

Course Description
Why do certain places have particular kinds of weather? How do forecasters predict the weather? Is global warming really happening? These questions are among those addressed in this interactive and hands-on introduction to meteorology, climatology and biogeography. In Geography 1110, energy concepts and radiation laws are used to examine atmospheric processes and patterns. Concepts examined include atmospheric and oceanic circulation, weather elements and patterns, severe weather, climate patterns, and past and future climate change. Plant and animal distribution patterns and their causes are also studied, along with human impacts on the atmosphere and biosphere.
Course Content
  1. Introduction
    • Scientific method
    • Systems theory and its application to planet Earth
    • Sun / Earth geometry
  2. Solar Energy and Radiation Laws
    • First Law of Thermodynamics
    • Electromagnetic radiation
    • Wien’s Displacement Law, Stephan-Boltzmann Law and the Inverse Square Law
    • Variation in the receipt of solar radiation
  3. The Earth's Atmosphere
    • Evolution of the modern atmosphere
    • Classification of the atmosphere
    • Anthropogenic atmospheric pollutants and their effects
  4. Energy Concepts, Energy Balance
    • Second Law of Thermodynamics
    • Energy transfer, transmission and absorption
    • Heat energy concepts
    • Radiation and energy balances
  5. Temperature Variation
    • Influences on temperature
    • Temperature patterns
    • Measurement of temperature
  6. Pressure and Atmospheric Circulation
    • Pressure and its variation, distribution and measurement
    • Gas Law
    • Forces influencing the direction and speed of upper level and surface winds
    • Patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation
    • Macro- and meso-scale winds
  7. Moisture in the Atmosphere
    • Indices of water vapour content
      • Methods and forms of condensation
      • Mechanisms and forms of precipitation
  8. Adiabatic Processes and Stability
    • Diabatic and adiabatic processes
    • Lapse rates
    • Concept and types of stability
  9. Air Masses, Fronts, Mid-latitude Cyclones
    • Air mass formation, classification and modification
    • Front types, formation and characteristics
    • Development, evolution and movement of mid-latitude cyclones
    • Anticyclones
  10. Severe Weather
    • Characteristics and life-cycles of air mass and severe thunderstorms
    • Tornado formation, characteristics and dimensions
    • Hurricane development, characteristics, structure, forecasts and damage
  11. Global Climates
    • Köppen  and Thornthwaite climate classification schemes
    • Patterns and characteristics of A, B, C, D, E and H climates
  12. Biogeography
    • Ecological biogeography and its relationship to climatic patterns
    • Abiotic and biotic influences on primary productivity in various ecosystems
    • Trophic relationships in ecosystems
    • Stages of general ecological succession in ecosystems
  13. Climate Change
    • Evidence for past climate variation
    • Urban heat island
    • Atmospheric greenhouse effect and critical analyses of global warming predictions
    • Local actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be  able to:

  1. Describe and use the frameworks of science applicable to 1st-year physical geography.
  2. Think critically and examine climatological, meteorological and biogeographical issues in a scientific context at local, regional and global scales.
  3. Describe and explain the processes that occur within earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere systems, and identify and describe interactions among these systems.
  4. Communicate effectively using the language, graphical presentation methods and quantitative methods employed in physical geography.
  5. Connect theoretical applications to “real-world” observations and measurements.

Means of Assessment

The evaluation will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria during the first week of classes.

Evaluation will include some of the following:

  • Laboratory assignments with a combined value of up to 50%.
  • Multiple choice and short answer exams with a combined value of up to 50%.
  • Field work with a value of up to 20%.
  • A term project with a value of up to 25%.

 

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Laboratory Assignments  10%
Two Laboratory Exams  30%
Midterm Examination  25%
Final Examination  25%
Term Project  10%
Total 100%

Note:  This course received a standing variance from Education Council in November 1999 to allow up to a 15% open book lab exam in the penultimate week of the semester.  This is not a final exam; it is an assessment of student learning of lab work performed in the second half of the semester.

Textbook Materials

Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:

  • Christopherson, R. W. and M.L. Byrne (2006). Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography (Canadian ed.).  Toronto: Prentice Hall.

Which Prerequisite

GEOG 2210, GEOG 2230, GEOG 2321