1010-Fall 2008 W
From GeoClasses
Geography 1010 is the study of atmospheric processes and the geographic distribution of radiation, moisture, pressure, and circulation interacting to create weather systems and storms; ocean influences, sun-earth relationships, global climate patterns; human interaction with the atmosphere.
Fall 2008: W 5:30-8:30 (110 Johnson Hall)
Contents |
Text book
- Understanding Weather and Climate, Aguado and Bert, 4th edition.
- We will be using the customized edition for the University of Memphis that is available at the bookstore.
- Website:
- http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/Classes/index.php/1010-Fall_2008_W
- It may be easier to go to the main site (http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/Classes/) and find the class link.
- There is a lot of information on the website, but the text is your friend. Read it.
Grading
- 2 Exams: worth 40% each.
- Exam 1: Mid-term
- (Wednesday, October 15th)
- Exam 2: Final (cumulative)
- (Wednesday, December 10th, 5:30-8:30pm)
- Exam 1: Mid-term
- Term project: 10%
- Due Wednesday, November 26th.
- Weather Log and report: 10%
- Due Wednesday, November 19th.
- Extra-credit: See instructor.
Term Project
Analyze the climate of a city. You will collect data from NOAA and analyze it with reference to the Global atmospheric circulation model.
Procedure:
- Choose a city you want to analyze and get it approved by your instructor. You will get no credit if you city choice is not approved.
- Follow the instructions in the Climatic Regions Lab
- Fall 2008 W: Climate lab cities
- Submit your completed project online using the: Project Submission Form
- Approved website sources
- Global atmospheric circulation
- air masses very good tutorial about air masses centered around the UK!
- air masses cool satellite animations about air masses (short)
- air masses and fronts very good tutorial about fronts and air masses
- clouds/fronts good basic tutorial about cloud types associated with different weather patterns
- fronts very thorough tutorial about fronts
Weather log
You will need to keep a weather log for one continuous month (30 days) during the semester. This log will help you learn to identify clouds, and observe the effects of fronts and air masses on local weather.
ON completion of this 30 days of recording you will write up a description of weather and climate that occurred over this time period. In particular, you will relate the weather you observed to the fronts shown in the Global atmospheric circulation.
Lectures
The sequence of topics is subject to change depending on how much we cover in class. You should try to read one lecture ahead. I will announce in class what topics will be covered next.
The presentations on the website are the same ones I use in class.
Global atmospheric circulation
- Text: Chapter 8: pg. 212-216.
- Global atmospheric circulation - A model for general atmospheric circulation.
- Approved website sources
- atmospheric circulation (very basic)
- jetstream and global winds click on "giving rise to the jet stream" for a good tutorial
Air masses and fronts
- Powerpoint
- Air Masses
- Memphis: April 2nd, 2006 thunderstorms
- Old lecture recordings on this topic.
Orbits, seasons and climate
- Text: Chapter 2: pg. 43-50.
- Earth, and its orbit (seasons)
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- Weather and climate in the News
- NPR article from Jan 29, 2007 on speed of climate change
The origin and evolution of the atmosphere
- Powerpoint
- Origin of the Earth - and the scientific method.
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- Atoms and Molecules
Midterm Exam
The midterm exam will cover all of the material above.
Supplemental instruction
Supplemental instruction is series of weekly review sessions for students who are taking a historically difficult course. Attendance is voluntary.
More information on Supplemental Instruction including, who can attend, who leads the sessions, the schedule, and opportunities for additional tutoring click on this link: Supplemental Instruction
Study Aids:
- Crossword puzzle: Media:Practice_crossword.pdf by Katie.
Second half of semester
Atmospheric composition and pollution
- Atmospheric composition, structure and pollution
- Websites:
- What is gasoline and is Premium grade better for your car: Scientific American article
- Spot check pollution - How do you set an acceptable level of pollution.
Heat and radiation in the atmosphere
- Radiation in the atmosphere
- Powerpoint
- Lecture Recording:
Heat and temperature
- Temperature
Temperature Notes
- Spot check: What is the difference between heat and temperature?
Weather
Cloud Notes
Lecture 10: Global Warming
- Global warming in the news
- NPR article from Jan 29, 2007 on speed of climate change
- NYT article on maple trees and maple syrup
- Article in Science on the mystifying acceleration of glacial ice loss in Greenland and Antarctica.
Lecture 11: Paleo-climate
- Notes: Paleo-climate
- The Last Glacial Maximum
Exam 2
Old study guide: Exam 2 Spring 20007 - studyguide/review
Extra Credit
The principle behind any Extra Credit project is that it must create something, such as a movie or webpage that can be used by students who take this class next semester. Your extra credit project will be made available on the course website for others to use. This means it must meet certain standards for accuracy if you want to recieve any credit.
Examples;
- The MovieClassroom - the website to make Earth Science movies.
- Student webpage projects
- Sailing project: http://lurbano-5.memphis.edu/mariner/mariner-ao/login.html
Earth Science Models
I will be using a number of these 3d models for demonstrations in class. It may be useful to use these as study aides.
Weather and climate links
Google Maps
NOAA
- National Weather Service - for current weather.
- NOAA Hurricane Website
- Why we don't nuke hurricanes - because you know you've always wanted to know the answer to this question.
- Hydrometeorological Prediction Center
- Hurricane visualizatons
Mt. Washington Observatory: http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/
Global warming related art and graphs
Climate Modeling
- The physics of climate modeling - From Physics Today.
- The Discovery of Global Warming - excellent introduction to climate modeling and the discovery of global warming by the American Institute of Physics.
Global warming
- 2007 IPCC Report
- How warming is affecting the clothing industry (NY Times)
