NATS101 Intro to Weather and Climate

Natural Sciences 101, Section 45, Spring 2006

Introduction to Meteorology and Climate

Class Hours and Location: Section 45: 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM (MWF) in ILC 150.

Instructor: Dr. Steven L. Mullen (mullen@atmo.arizona.edu, PAS 552, 621-6831, 621-6842).

Teaching Assistant: Koichi Sakaguchi (ksa@email.arizona.edu, Office: PAS 526, Telephone: 621-6843)

Office Hours: Dr. Mullen: tentatively WF 2:00-2:50 pm; by appointment. Mr. Sakaguchi: TR 2:00-2:50 pm.

Required Text: Essentials of Meteorology-An Invitation to the Atmosphere, 4^th Ed. (ISBN 0-534-42264-0) by C. Donald Ahrens

Online: http://www.ichapters.net/ for less $$ than the bookstore.

Highly Recommended: Study Guide for Essentials of Meteorology, 4^th Ed. (ISBN 0-534-42266-7) by C. Donald Ahrens. Available by order at bookstore or online.

Other Required Material: Thirty (30) 4''x 6'' index cards, used for daily student-to-instructor feedback, attendance (see below), etc.

Course Description: An introduction to the science of weather and climate, including such topics (time permitting) as the atmospheric composition, energy balance, wind systems, genesis of fronts and cyclones, precipitation processes, clouds, severe weather, weather prediction and optical phenomena. Emphasis will be given to phenomena that have strong impacts on human activities and economic livelihood such as tornadoes, hurricanes, El Nino, global warming, ozone depletion, and air pollution. The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry and mathematics to the atmospheric sciences will be explored.

Grading Policy: Final grade will be based on scores from your six best regularly-scheduled quizzes, impromptu “pop quizzes”, and a comprehensive final examination. Scheduled quizzes will consist of 20 total questions that are multiple choice and/or short answer. Extra credit questions may appear on some quizzes. Each quiz will cover new material presented up through the end of the previous lecture period. There will be seven quizzes during the term. The quizzes will be given: Jan27, Feb 10, Feb 24, Mar 10, Mar 31, Apr 14 and Apr 28. No Exceptions. The time for quizzes is 10:00 am sharp. No Exceptions. Students who arrive late on quiz/exam dates, where late is defined as arriving after the first student turns in her/his quiz/exam, will not be not allowed to take the quiz/exam. Because the lowest score among the seven quizzes will be excluded from the course grade, there will be NO MAKE-UP QUIZZES. Bring your CAT CARD on quiz days!

Pop-quizzes will consist of 1 or 2 questions. The format of the questions will be same as for the regularly-scheduled quizzes: multiple choice and/or short answer questions. They will count the same as regular quiz questions, and they will be added to your total quiz score. As incentive to “keep up with the program”, pop quizzes may include material that is contained in the reading assignment for that day’s lecture. Answers will only be accepted on 4''x 6'' index cards!

The final will be Monday, May 8, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm in ILC 150. No Exceptions. Bring your CAT CARD to the final! The final will consist of 60 multiple-choice questions and/or short answer questions. A minimum of 30, but no more than 40 questions, will be taken verbatim from the old quizzes. If your score on the final exceeds the average of your six best quizzes, the quizzes will comprise 60% and the final the remaining 40% of your course grade. Otherwise the quizzes will comprise 75% and the final the remaining 25%. Any student with an average of 90% or better on all seven quizzes will be exempt from the final and will receive an "A'' for the course. There will be NO EXTRA CREDIT PROJECTS. No Exceptions…so plan accordingly!

Course Grading Scale
A	B	C	D	E
90% or higher	89.99-80.0%	79.99-65.0%	64.99-55.0%	Below 55.0%

Expectations: The reading assignments for each day's lecture are listed on a separate handout. You are expected to complete the assigned reading before the lecture. Unless you hear otherwise from Professor Mullen, you are always responsible for the reading material. Of course, you are invited to ask questions about the material during lecture, office hours or review sessions. Per University policy, I expect every student to devote a minimum of two hours outside of class to studying, reading, etc. for every contact hour in classroom. See http://catalog.arizona.edu/2004-05/policies/enrpol.htm#unit.

Attendance Policy: Attendance is mandatory. I reserve the option to tally attendance throughout the semester. After three unexcused absences, you will be issued an administrative drop (prior to the end of week 8) in accord with University of Arizona (UA) policy. http://catalog.arizona.edu/2005-06/policies/classatten.htm. My suggestion...just come to class.

Academic Integrity: The UA Code of Academic Integrity, Code of Conduct and Student Code of Conduct are strictly followed. All students are responsible for knowing the codes and abiding by them. http://w3.arizona.edu/~studpubs/policies/ppmainpg.html. You can submit complaints about fellow students online at http://dos.web.arizona.edu/uapolicies/index.html.

Literacy Requirements: Although the writing requirement for this course is negligible, there is a science literacy requirement. This means that we use scientific notation for writing numbers (especially rather large or small ones). We specify units for all physical quantities (e.g. meters for height, etc.). We attempt to quantify physical relationships based on data and simple theory.

Course Withdrawal: Last day to drop the course without it appearing on your record is Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006. Last day to drop the course with a "W'' grade is Tuesday, Mar 7,2006. To receive a W, your average grade at the time you drop must equal or exceed 55%.

Natural Sciences 101, Section 45, Spring 2006

Introduction to Weather and Climate

Tentative Schedule of Topics and Links to Lecture Slides

All Subject to Change, So COME to Class!

Week

Monday

Wednesday

Friday

Jan 9 – Jan 13

Introduction: Why study the atmosphere?

Notes ppt Notes html Friedman Article

Atmospheric Composition Vertical Structure

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
Jan 9 – Jan 13		Friedman Article	1-13
Jan 16 – Jan 20	HOLIDAY Martin Luther King Day	13-22, C: 431-432	25-30
Jan 23 – Jan 27	30-34	35-42	QUIZ 1
Jan 30 – Feb 3	42-51	55-64	77-89, B: 430, D: 433-436
Feb 6 – Feb 10	89-96	96-108	QUIZ 2
Feb 13 – Feb 17	111-120	121-134	141-148
Feb 20 – Feb 24	148-149	150-157	QUIZ 3
Feb 27 – Mar 3	157-164	167-181	173-175
Mar 6 – Mar 10	181-189, 343-349	189-197	QUIZ 4
Mar 13 – Mar 17	Spring Break	Spring Break	Spring Break
Mar 20 – Mar 24	201-212	212-219	219-228
Mar 27 – Mar 31	231-248	249-254	QUIZ 5
Apr 3 – Apr 7	257-271	271-276	277-290
Apr 10 – Apr 14	293-314	317-324, 327-340	QUIZ 6
Apr 17 – Apr 21	324-327, 330	373-390	391-399
Apr 24 – Apr 28			QUIZ 7
May 1 – May 5	Review Final Exceptions Explained	Course Evaluations Final Exemptions Issued
May 8 – May 12	FINAL EXAM 11 am-1 pm

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
Jan 9 – Jan 13			Pg 22: 1.2, 3, 10, 14
Jan 16 – Jan 20	HOLIDAY Martin Luther King Day	Pg 22: 1.17, 18, 20	Pg 52: 2.1, 2, 3, 4
Jan 23 – Jan 27	Pg 52: 2.7, 9	Pg 52: 2.10, 11, 12	QUIZ 1
Jan 30 – Feb 3	Pg 52: 2.15, 16, 18	Pg 74: 3.1, 2, 5, 6, 14	Pg 108: 4.1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10
Feb 6 – Feb 10	Pg 108: 4.3, 13, 14, 15	Pg 108: 4.16	QUIZ 2
Feb 13 – Feb 17	Pg 137: 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7	Pg 137: 5.14, 16, 17	Pg 164: 6.1, 7, 8
Feb 20 – Feb 24	Pg 164: 6.9, 10	Pg 164: 6.12, 13, 17, 19, 22	QUIZ 3
Feb 27 – Mar 3	Pg 164: 6.23, 24	Pg 198: 7.3, 4	Pg 198: 7.5
Mar 6 – Mar 10	Pg 198: 7.11, 12, 13	Pg 198: 7.17, 18	QUIZ 4
Mar 13 – Mar 17	Spring Break	Spring Break	Spring Break
Mar 20 – Mar 24	Pg 228: 8.1, 11	Pg 228: 8.12, 13	Pg 228: 8.14, 15, 17
Mar 27 – Mar 31	Pg 254: 9. 3, 4, 5, 6	Pg 254: 9.11, 15, 18	QUIZ 5
Apr 3 – Apr 7	Pg 290: 10.1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16	Pg 290: 10.17, 18, 19	Pg 290: 10.25, 26, 29
Apr 10 – Apr 14	Pg 314: 11.6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15	Pg 340: 12.1, 5, 14, 15, 19, 23	QUIZ 6
Apr 17 – Apr 21	Pg 340: 12.10, 11	Pg 399: 14.5, 6, 7, 10	Pg 399: 14.12, 15, 16, 19
Apr 24 – Apr 28			QUIZ 7
May 1 – May 5	Review Final Exceptions Explained	Course Evaluations Final Exemptions Issued
May 8 – May 12	FINAL EXAM 11 am-1 pm