SPRING 2018
GEOGRAPHY 410: METEOROLOGY
Instructor: Dr. Brent R. Skeeter
Office: Henson Science Hall 157-D
Office Phone: 410-543-6458
E-mail Address:
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00 TR 12:30-2:00;also, my door is “always” open –
never hesitateto come see meaboutanything.
CourseDescription:
This course is a study of the physical processes, motions, and disturbances of the atmosphere. Emphasis is on those factors involved in causing day-to-day and week-to-week weather variations, especially in the mid-latitudes.
Prerequisite:
Geography 201 (with a 'C' or better) or instructor's consent.
Text:
There is no textbook for the course. However, selected handouts and readings will be provided to you throughout the semester.
Absences:
It is the responsibility of the student to make up all deficiencies caused by any absence.
Grading:
Your course grade will be basedon your performance on four exams (each worth 100 points) and an exercise worth 40 points. The four exams will consist of a variety of types of questions (essays, short answer, problems, etc.) although you can expect the majority of the questions to be essays. The final exam will contain a comprehensivesection. The final exam will be held Wednesday, May 23rd at 1:30 p.m. The dates of the other exams will be announced at least one week in advance.All exams (except the final) will be returned, discussed and re-collected at the start of the subsequent class period. You will receive more information about the exercise several weeks into the semester.
There will be an opportunity for you to earn extra credit via your participation and performance in the department's semester-long weather forecasting contest for Salisbury. You will be given more specific information about the contest in class. The web address for accessing the contest is: A link to the contest is also on the Department’s webpage.
Your final grade will be assigned based upon the following scale:
A: 90-100% B: 80-<90% C: 70-<80% D: 60-<70% F: <60%
Make-UpExams:
Make-up exams will only be given to students who can convince me that their absence from the regularly scheduled test-period was justified. Also, because exams will be returned and discussed during the subsequent class period, it is imperative that make-ups be taken priorto the next class meeting if possible.
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
All writing assignments, both formal and informal, are in support of Salisbury University’s Writing Across the Curriculum Program.
CLASSROOM DEMEANOR:
Students are expected to arrive to class on time and to be courteous to their fellow students. Students should not speak among themselves while the instructor is speaking. In addition, cell phones must be turned off and kept out of reach.
TENTATIVECOURSEOUTLINE
1) Introduction to Meteorology
2) A Review of Some Basics of Meteorology
3) Mid-Tropospheric Flow and its Importance on the Weather
a) Long Waves and Short Waves
b) Vorticity
c) Forcing Mechanisms and Teleconnection
d) Vorticity Advection (PVA and NVA)
e) Jet Maxima
f) The Meteorological and Climatological Importance of the Flow Aloft
4) Severe Weather
a) Thunderstorms
b) Tornadoes
c) Hurricanes
5) Forecasting
a) Forecasting Methods
b) Types of Forecasts and Their Accuracy
c) Long Range Forecasts