Class meets Monday-Friday 9:40-10:40 a.m.

Room: ATG 310 C

Instructor: Kent Short

Phone: 543-6627

E-mail: kshort@bcc.ctc.edu

Office: ATG 420

Office hours: M-F 10:45-11:45

TEXT (REQUIRED): Essentials of Meteorology, 2nd Edition (1998), by C. Donald Ahrens.

COURSE OVERVIEW: This course will provide a basic introduction to weather and climate, including the composition and structure of the atmosphere, the major elements of weather including temperature, pressure, humidity, clouds, winds, and storms. We will look at the forces that operate in the atmosphere, and the mechanisms that produce precipitation and severe weather. We'll touch on air pollution topics, and conclude with a discussion of global climate and the prospects for climate change.

HOMEWORK: There will be weekly written homework assignments coinciding with the reading assignments. Homework will consist of written (or typed) answers to questions selected from the Review Questions at the end of each chapter. Homework assignments will be checked for completeness, but NOT graded for right and wrong answers. Answer keys will be posted for you to self-correct your homework if you choose to do so (recommended). Homework will count as 15% of your final grade. Homework is due at the beginning of class on the due date. Homework that is late by one day will be penalized 50%, and will not be accepted beyond one day late.

PROJECTS: This class is technically not a laboratory class. However, there will be two projects assigned during the quarter that will enable you to use the outside world as a sort of "laboratory". The first of these will be a weather observation project, and the second will be a climate research project that will encourage you to use library and/or Internet resources. Each of these projects will count as 15% of your total grade (30% combined). Projects are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Projects that are late by one day will be penalized 50%, and will not be accepted beyond one day late.

TESTS: There will be two "midterm" tests during the quarter, with the scheduled dates shown on the attached schedule. Each of these will count as 15% of your final grade (30% combined). Makeup tests are allowable ONLY: (1) if arrangements are made with the instructor well in advance of an unavoidable absence, or (2) in the event of sickness and emergency, and provided that the instructor is notified at the earliest possible opportunity (before the test unless it's a case of emergency). The final exam will be a two-hour exam on Friday, August 18, at 9:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. The first half of the final will cover the final chapters of the text, and the second half will consist of questions from the entire course. The final exam is mandatory, and will constitute 25% of your total grade.

GRADING: As detailed above, your grading evaluation will break down as follows:

Homework: 15%

Projects (2 x 15%): 30%

Midterm Tests (2 x 15%): 30%

Final Exam: 25%

Percentage to letter grade conversion:

95-100%=A; 90-94%=A-; 87-89%=B+; 83-86%=B; 80-82%=B-; 77-79%=C+;

73-76%=C; 70-72%=C-; 65-69%=D+; 60-64%=D; less than 60%=F

EXTRA CREDIT: You will be given the opportunity to earn up to 5 points extra credit (5% added to your final course total) during this course, by turning in written reviews of videos shown in class (1 point each), turning in written reviews of possible guest lectures (2 points each), or by finding substantive errors (not typos) in the textbook (1 point each).

ATTENDANCE: Aside from the first week or so of class, the instructor will NOT take attendance. As college students, you should be aware that it is in your own best interest to get the maximum benefit from each class you take, and that cannot be achieved unless you attend class regularly. Attendance in this class will not be forced -- it is your decision -- but be advised that you simply cannot be successful in this class without attending regularly!