Syllabus

Course Hours/Location:

Section 31: Monday, Wednesday, Friday   10:00 - 10:50  
Integrated Learning Center (ILC), Room 140.

Section 32: Monday, Wednesday, Friday   9:00 - 9:50  
Integrated Learning Center (ILC), Room 140 (New Room).

Course Descripton / Topics Covered:

An introduction to the science of weather processes and climate. Topics covered include (time permitting) reading and interpreting weather maps and other weather data, atmospheric composition, static vertical structure, wind systems and dynamics, genesis of fronts and cyclones, weather prediction, evaporation and condensation, cloud formation, atmospheric stability, formation of severe weather, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, radiation, energy balance, seasonal changes, greenhouse effect, satellite-derived information, temperature controls, climate, climate controls, climate change, and global warming. The fundamental importance of physics, chemistry, and mathematics to atmospheric science will be stressed.

Web page:

http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/students/courselinks/spring08/nats101s31n32/home.html

Instructor:

Professor Dale Ward
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
Office: Physics and Atmospheric Sciences (PAS) Building, Room 566D.
Office Hours: Thursday 9:30-11:00 or by appointment.
Phone: 626-7261 (voice mail)
Email: ward@atmo.arizona.edu(Recommended way to contact me)

Teaching Assistant:

Kate Sammler
Office: Physics and Atmospheric Sciences (PAS) Building, Room 522
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 12:00-1:00
Phone: 621-6840
Email: sammler@atmo.arizona.edu

Requrired Text:

Essentials of Meterology, Fifth Edition, (ISBN: 0-495-11558-4) by C. Donald Ahrens
For a cheaper alternative, check out http://www.ichapters.net/

Student Responsibilities:

Participate actively in the learning process by doing the reading assignments, thinking about what you are writing as you take notes in class, turning in assignments on time, preparing for and taking quizzes and the final exam during the scheduled times, and asking questions about confusing class or textbook material.

The reading assignments for each day's lectures are listed under the Assigned Reading Link. You are expected to complete the assigned reading BEFORE the lecture and again after the lecture if necessary. Per University policy, you are expected to devote a minimum of two hours outside of class to studying and reading for every hour in the classroom (See http://catalog.arizona.edu/2006-07/policies/enrpol.htm#unit)

You are expected to follow the University of Arizona Code of Academic Integrity and to treat fellow students, teaching assistants, and the instructor with courtesy and respect. Please turn off your cell phones during class.

Daily Information / Important Dates:

Assigned reading for each lecture is provided under the Assigned Reading Link. Assigned readings will consist of textbook reading as well as supplemental web-based material. You are expected to read the assigned material before attending the corresponding lecture for each date under the reading link.

Lecture summaries will contain a brief outline of the topics covered during each lecture without much detail. This is by no means a substitute for the assigned reading or in-class notes. Lecture summaries are available under Lecture Summaries Link.

Review questions pertaining to each lecture will be provided under the Review Questions Link.
These are composed of selected textbook questions and supplemental questions, which are meant to evaluate your understanding and application of the lecture material.

Quiz dates and homework due dates are included in each of the links mentioned above.

Quizzes:

50% of your final grade will be based on six in-class quizzes given during the semester. The quizzes will consist mostly of multiple choice questions, but may also include short answer or discussion type questions. Most of the questions will be over material covered since the last quiz, although some questions may require that you incorporate basic concepts covered earlier in the semester. Most of the questions will be over material covered during lectures, but some questions may be taken from the required reading material that was not specifically covered in lecture. Make up quizzes will not be allowed without a univeristy-approved excuse.

Final Exam:

A comprehensive final exam will be given. It will be the same format at the quizzes. The final exam will make up 25% of your final grade.

Final exams are given in your classroom.
Section 31: Final exam is Friday, May 9 from 11:00 - 1:00
Section 32: Final exam is Friday, May 16 from 8:00 - 10:00

Homework:

Homework assignments will be given periodically during the semester. These will consist of brief problem sets, short answer questions, and short written papers. Some homework sets may include data analysis and simple mathematical calculations. The sum total of all homeworks will make up 25% of your final grade. Individual homework assignments may not be equally weighted. Homework assignments will be available under the homework link. Homework assignements are due by the end of class on the specifed due date. Late homeworks will not be accepted without a univeristy-approved excuse.

Your homework assignments will be graded on the quality and clarity of your English, presentation (neatness), as well as content. Cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, or plagiarism will NOT be tolerated.

Grading Policy:

There are two possibilities:

1. If your average grade, which includes all six quizzes and homeworks, is 90.0% or higher, then you will not have to take the final exam and you will receive an A for the course. For this calculation, your average quiz grade will make up 75% of your final grade (12.5% per quiz) and your homework grade will make up the remaining 25% of your final grade.
2. If you do not meet the above requirement, then you MUST take the final exam. In this case, your lowest quiz score will be dropped (thus you may miss one quiz without affecting your grade). The remaining 5 quizzes will make up 50% of your final grade (10% per quiz), your homework average will make up 25% of your final grade, and the final exam will make up the remaining 25% of your final grade.

No extra credit projects or assignments will be offered. No exceptions.

Grade Scale:  A (≥90.0%), B (80.0-89.9%), C (65.0-79.9%), D (50.0-64.9%), E (≤49.9%)

Attendance Policy:

It is your responsibility to attend class. Attendance will not be taken. There will be no pop quizzes. During lectures you are expected to be courteous and respectful of other students and the instructor. Disruptive students will be asked to leave the classroom. In other words, if you come to class to carry on personal conversations or play with electronic toys, I would rather that you do not attend class. That being stated, you are responsible for the material covered during lecture. If you miss a lecture, whether you have a valid excuse or not, I suggest that you obtain lecture notes from a trusted classmate. Most of the quiz questions will be taken from material covered during lectures.