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Meteorology

NATS 1005
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Syllabus 
Study Guides
Sample Test
Lab Syllabus

Lecture: 11:00 – 11:50 MWF S245

Lab:
Section 01   11:00 –  12:40  T      S250
Section 02   1:00 – 2:40 M           S250

Professor: Ed Wehling        ‘Ed’ or ‘Professor Wehling’

Office: S208

Office phone: 763-433-1174

Email: ed.wehling@anokaramsey.edu

Office hours:   M:10:00-10:50    T: 1:00-1:50   
W:10:00-10:50,  1:00-1:50       F:10:00-10:50

Textbook: Ackerman & Knox, Meteorology: Understanding the Atmosphere--Textbook is NOT required!

Course Manual: Available in the bookstore. Course manual IS required!  [Fall 2008 version]

Attendance:

• Attendance is not required for lectures.
• Attendance is required for labs to meet the course objectives.

Grading:

• Exams
  The lowest score among the first 5 exams will be dropped.
  Everyone counts the 6th exam.
  --5 exams total @ 20% each of your total grade
  No makeups!!
  
  Exam Dates:
  • Quiz Friday, September 5 (to be added to exam 1 score)
  • Exam 1 Friday, September 12          
  • Exam 2 Wednesday, October 1      
  • Exam 3 Monday, October 20            
  • Exam 4 Wednesday, November 5      
  • Exam 5 Friday, November 21        
  • Exam 6 (Final) Friday, December 19
    11:50 AM--1:00 PM    S235   (same room)
    Exam 6 is not cumulative.

   Exam Content:
       --Exams concentrate on the material presented in lectures.
       --Exams are typically 2/3 multiple choice and 1/3 essay questions.
       --Copies of most of the images presented in lecture are available on eReserve.

  Exam average                Grade
            >86%                         A
         75-86%                         B
         64-75%                         C
            <64%                          F

• Labs
  --No makeups!!
  --More info in Lab Syllabus

• Course grading
  Your course grade is based on your exam grades.
  Your exam grades are modified by the lab grades:

  # labs passed       Points added              Increase
   (out of 14)            to best exam             in course grade
  13                          20                            .38 letter grade
  12                          15                            .28 letter grade
  11                          10                            .19 letter grade
  10                            5                            .09 letter grade
    9 or less             fail class

  --There are no Ds given in the course.
  --I have the right to adjust the final grades as I see fit.

Alternative testing

• If you have alternative testing needs, you must discuss this with me by Wednesday, September 3. If you do not, you may not receive credit for the first exam.

Pass/Fail

• If you want to take the course pass fail, you must notify me by Wednesday, September 3.

Academic Honesty

• All students are expected to adhere to standards of academic honesty as specified in the Student Conduct Code. Violations of the Student Conduct Code may result in penalties as severe as expulsion from the college.

Teaching Philosophy

• Students are adults
  --No games, no busy work
  --Students are responsible for their success
  --Students are expected to behave and not disrupt class
• Primary goals of the course
  --Learn skills you will need the rest of your life such as learning how to:
       --learn,
       --listen
       --take notes
       --organize your thoughts,
       --figure out what you know and don't know
       --seek help,
       --communicate effectively
       --be successful

Meteorology Goals

• Understand, interpret, and describe to others physical processes that cause weather phenomena, including clouds, frost, dew, precipitation, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, winds, and humidity.

• Recognize, understand, and interpret the terminology, symbols, and tools used by meteorologists and use them to predict the weather, including maps, numerical models, satellite, and radar.

• Focus on Minnesota weather processes
   
• Interpret and analyze charts, graphs, maps, tables

Respect and behavior in the course

Among all of us
·        Be courteous
·        No socializing!!  No socializing!!  No socializing!!
·        Restrain comments, noises when others speak
·        Arrive on time
·        If you are late:
      --Enter in back
      --Be quiet
·        No recording of class without permission
·        Don't copy notes during class
·        Be prepared to be a student
·        Don’t pack up early

From me to you
·        Start class on time
·        End class on time
·        Clear expectations
      --Grading policies
      --Exam dates
      --Study guides
      --Behavior

Topics

• First look at Meteorology
  --Basics of weather discussion    Course Manual
  --Introduction to the atmosphere   [Chapter 1]
• Energy
  --Energy and temperature  [Chapters 2 & 3]
• Water
  --Atmospheric moisture, clouds, precipitation   [Chapter 4]
• Atmosphere in Motion
  --Atmospheric forces and wind  [Chapter 6 & 7]
  --Air masses and fronts   [Chapter 9]
  --Extratropical cyclones   [Chapter 10]
  --Thunderstorms and tornadoes   [Chapter 11]
• Other topics if time
  --Atmospheric optics   [Chapter 5]
  --Hurricanes   [Chapter 8]
  --Climate Change