AOSC 200: Weather and Climate

Instuctor: Dr. Tim Canty

 

        Email: [protected e-mail]

        Office: ATL 3427

        Phone: 5-5360

      www.atmos.umd.edu/~tcanty/aosc200

 

    Office Hours:

                Wednesday 3:00-4:30 PM or by appointment

 

When emailing, please put AOSC 200 in the subject line

and be sure to sign your name at the end of the email

 

Textbook:

 

Weather: A Consice Introduction  by: Gregory Hakim and Jιrτme Patou

       

 

 

AOSC 200 is an I-series course  For more information on this and other I-series classes please visit the I-Series webpage

 

 

Teaching Assistants: 

 

Name Email Office Office Hours
Hannah Daley [protected e-mail] ATL 3416 Wed: 3-4pm
Justin Hicks [protected e-mail] ATL 3416 Fri: 12-1pm
Austin Hope [protected e-mail] ATL 3416 Wed: 12:30-1:30pm
Joseph Knisely [protected e-mail] ATL 3416 Wed: 2-3pm
Lindsey Rodio [protected e-mail] ATL 3416 Fri: 11-12pm

 

Lectures: 

                 Session 1:       Tuesday & Thursday 12:30-1:45 pm   ATL 2324

                 Session 2:       Tuesday & Thursday   2:00-3:15 pm   ATL 2324

 

 Discussion Sections:

 

Section Day/Time Location

Teaching

Assistant

Session 1: 0101 Wed. 1:00-1:50 pm ATL 2428 Joseph Knisely
Session 1: 0102 Wed. 2:00-2:50 pm CHM 0127 Austin Hope
Session 1: 0103 Wed. 3:00-3:50 pm ATL 2330 Joseph Knisely
Session 1: 0104 Wed. 2:00-2:50 pm PLS 1146 Hannah Daley
Session 2: 0201 Wed. 2:00-2:50 pm SPH 0307 Lindsey Rodio
Session 2: 0202 Wed. 3:00-3:50 pm CHM 0127 Austin Hope
Session 2: 0203 Mon. 1:00-1:50 pm CHM 0127 Justin Hicks
Session 2: 0204 Mon. 2:00-2:50 pm ATL 2416 Justin Hicks

 

Course Description:

Weather affects not just our daily activities but other important aspects of society such as transportation, commerce, security and agriculture. Climate and climate change are concepts that evoke strong emotional responses from people. An environmentalist may say the planet is going to melt tomorrow while a politician makes a snowball in the winter and says everything is fine. Some of those talking the loudest about climate change don’t know what climate is and how it’s related to weather.

In this class, we will examine fundamental issues such as the greenhouse effect, severe weather, global weather patterns and air pollution and how these factors are affected by a changing climate. Instruction in the lectures will provide the basic knowledge needed to understand these issues. In the discussion sections, students will be divided into groups to address the implications of these conditions on their daily and future lives.

 

We're here to help you!

 

    If you find yourself struggling with course material, please contact the instructor or a TA right away. Often, a short conversation will really clear things up! Waiting until the end of the semester is too late to learn everything we go over in class. Seriously, come talk to us... we get lonely sometimes.

 

If you are experiencing difficulties in keeping up with academic depmands, contact the Counseling Center

 

https://www.counseling.umd.edu/academic

 

or go here for specific tutoring options

 

http://tutoring.umd.edu

 

If you just need someone to speak with about issues outside of the classroom please contact the Counseling Office  https://www.counseling.umd.edu/ 

 

 

Know your rights!

For more information regarding your rights as a student and the University policies that cover missed classes, please visit the following website:

http://www.ugst.umd.edu/courserelatedpolicies.html

 

Grades:

Overall grades will be determined as follows

Admission Tickets 5%
Topic of the day 10%
Quizzes 20%
Projects 20%
Mid-Term 20%
Final 25%

 

 

Here's how letter grades will be assigned:

 

Points          Letter

                    Grade

95 – 100         A+

90 – 94.9        A

85 – 89.9        A–

81 – 84.9        B+

78 – 80.9        B

75 – 77.9        B–

71 – 74.9        C+

68 – 70.9        C

65 – 67.9        C–

61 – 64.9        D+

58 – 60.9        D

55 – 57.9        D–

below 54.9      F

 

 

Extra Credit: There is no extra credit. Requests for extra credit will be ignored.

 

Grade Curves: Grades will not be curved.

 

Admission Tickets:

 

    Admission tickets are short, online, multiple choice quizzes that must be completed by NOON on the day of lecture.  Links to the admission tickets are available on the class calendar.  Questions will be based on the reading material for that lecture and will reflect some of the important points that you should take away from the readings. The four lowest scores will be dropped.

 

Topic of the Day:

 

   Sometimes we will have in class discussions on recent events and/or topics relevant to class.  You may be asked to work in small groups or individually in class or in discussion. There will be some before the midterm and the lowest grade will be dropped.  There will be some after the mid-term with the lowest grade being dropped. You must be present to receive credit. No excuses. This policy will not be changed simply because you missed all of the topics of the day in the beginning of the semester.

 

Projects:

 

   In the discussion sections, students will be divided into groups to address the implications of weather and climate issues. Project grades will be based on both the quality of the presentation and the participation of each student within the group.  Students will have the opportunity to evaluate the other members in the group.  Groups are required to submit outlines of their projects to the TAs who will offer comments and suggestions to improve the presentation.  Group members will each submit a written outline of their portion of the project as well as a final report when the projects are due.    

 

   Note:  All students must participate in the development and presentation of the project.  If there are any problems within the group please contact your TA immediately to resolve these issues.  It is not acceptable to wait until the project is due to mention that you were not able to participate due to communication issues or personality conflicts.   During the debate presentations, we ask students not to use notes or visual aids. The use of notes or visual aids will result in a loss of points   

 

  We will be using Turnitin software to check for instances of plagiarism. Copying other peoples work and not providing proper citations is considered academic dishonesty and will be referred to the honor council (see below Academic Honesty section below).  

 

 

Quizzes and Exams:

 

   There will be two short quizzes (basically short exams), a mid-term exam, and a final exam.  The quizzes will be based on material covered either since the beginning of the semester (Quiz #1) or since the mid-term (Quiz #2).  The mid-term exam will be based on material covered in class up to that point in the semester.  The final exam will be cumulative but weighted more heavily on material covered later in the semester.  I reserve the right to give pop quizzes at any time during the semester. 

 

    Any course material not covered in class may be covered on the exams or quizzes.

 

Attendance:

 

   Attendance is strongly encouraged though not mandatory.  If you do miss class because of sickness, family emergency, dinosaur invasion, etc. please review the material for the lecture that was missed. If you have questions please contact the instructor or one of the teaching assistants  To help with this effort, recordings of lectures will be available online (see below).

 

Lecture Recordings:

 

    All lectures will be recorded and available for reviewing.  Links to lectures will be posted. Lecture recordings are meant to help with your studying efforts and to allow you to review material that you may not have understood when it was first presented. If overall class attendance drops too low online access to the lecture recordings will be disabled without warning. 

 

Academic Accommodations: 

 

If you have a documented disability, you should contact Accessibility & Disability Services (0106 Shoemaker Hall).  Each semester students with documented disabilities should apply to ADS for accommodation request forms which you provide to your professors as proof of your eligibility for accommodations.  More information can be found on the ADS website:

 

https://www.counseling.umd.edu/ads/

 

Religious Observances: 

 

The University System of Maryland policy provides that students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances.  It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any intended absences for religious observances in advance.  Notice should be provided as soon as possible but no later that the end of the schedule adjustment period.  Prior notification is especially important in connection with final exams, since failure to reschedule a final exam before the conclusion of the final examination period may result in loss of credits during the semester. 

 

Academic Honesty:

 

    The student-administered Honor Code and Honor Pledge prohibits students from cheating on exams, plagiarizing papers, submitting the same paper for credit in two courses without authorization, buying papers, submitting fraudulent documents and forging signatures. On every examination, paper or other academic exercise not specifically exempted by the instructor, students must write by hand and sign the following pledge:

I pledge on my honor that I have not given or received any unauthorized assistance on this examination (or assignment).

Compliance with the code is administered by the Student Honor Council, which strives to promote a community of trust on the College Park campus.  Any instances of academic dishonesty will be referred to the Honor Council.

 

In Class Behavior:

 

    It's fine to have short discussions with another student during class if they are 1) quiet and 2) short.  If you have a question the two of you can't figure out, please ask and we can try to answer it as a class. Excessive disruption of class is not only rude but wastes the money of those students who are trying to learn.  Any students continuously disrupting class or discussion will be asked to leave.

 

Cell Phone and Computer usage:

 

    Unfortunately, cell phone use is prohibited unless given express permission for use in class.  Using your phone not only keeps you from paying attention but it may distract those around you.  We know that it may be difficult to pay attention sometimes so if you need to stand up and stretch or walk around a bit, please do so. If you are waiting for an important call or text message please wait outside. 

 

    If you are obviously using a phone during class:

 

1) You will be asked to put it away, if you continue:

2) You will be asked to leave

3) Class will be stopped until you leave

 

    Any material not covered in lecture due to time spent waiting for students to leave will be covered in the exams. 

 

   Computer use is permitted provided if it is for reviewing posted lecture notes or to take notes.  There may be in class discussions where computer use is encouraged.  If you wish to use a computer while in class, you must sit in the first 6 rows of the middle section of seats. Cell phone rules apply for any computer use not related to class.

 

Class Schedule:

   

Date

Lecture

Reading

Admission Ticket

Video

8/27

Introduction Chapter 1 No Admission Ticket Today  

8/29

Weather Observations Chapter 1 No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

9/3

Weather Maps Chapter 2 No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

9/5

Remote Sensing Chapter 2 No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

9/10

Atmospheric Composition Chapter 3
Pgs 42-45
Admission Ticket 01 Session 1
Session 2

9/12

Atmospheric Structure Chapter 3
Pgs 45-50
Admission Ticket 02 Session 1
Session 2

9/17

Energy Transfer
Chapter 4
Pgs 51-61
Admission Ticket 03 Session 1
Session 2

9/19

Quiz #1
Energy and the Earth
Chapter 4
Pgs 61-74
No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

9/24

Temperature Chapter 4
Pgs 61-74
Admission Ticket 04 Session 1
Session 2

9/26

The Water Cycle Chapter 5
Pgs 75-79
Admission Ticket 05 Session 1
Session 2

10/1

The Water Cycle cont. Chapter 5
Pgs 79-89
Admission Ticket 06 Session 1
Session 2

10/3

Clouds pt1. Chapter 6
Pgs 91-102
Admission Ticket 07 Session 1
Session 2

10/8

Clouds pt2. Chapter 6
Pgs  102-116
Admission Ticket 08 Session 1
Session 2

10/10

Precipitation Chapter 7 No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2
10/15 review study No Admission Ticket Today  
10/17 Mid-Term Exam   No Admission Ticket Today  

10/22

Forces and Wind Chapter 8
Pgs 126-134
No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

10/24

Forces and Wind pt2 Chapter 8
Pgs 134-144
Admission Ticket 09
(due Friday at 5pm)
Session 1
Session 2

10/29

Global Winds Chapter 9
Pgs 145-156
No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

10/31

Ocean Currents Chapter 9
Pgs 156-166
No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

11/5

Air Masses Chapter 10
Pgs 167-177
Admission Ticket 10 Session 1
Session 2

11/7

Quiz #2
Fronts
Chapter 10
Pgs 177-185
Admission Ticket 11
(due Friday at 5pm)
Session 1
Session 2

11/12

Thunderstorms and Lightning (very, very frightening) Chapter 11
Pgs 188-193
Admission Ticket 12 Session 1
Session 2

11/14

Tornadoes Chapter 11
Pgs 193-200
Admission Ticket 13 Session 1
Session 2

11/19

Tornadoes +Tropical Cyclones Chapter 12 Admission Ticket 14 Session 1
Session 2

11/21

Forecasting Chapter 13 No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

11/26

Atmospheric Optics   No Admission Ticket Today No lecture recording
11/28 Happy Thanksgiving!!

12/3

Climate No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

12/5

Climate   No Admission Ticket Today Session 1
Session 2

12/10

Reading Day

  Exam review

12/14

Session 2 ( 2pm class) Final Exam: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM

12/16

Session 1 (12:30 class) Final Exam: 1:30 PM-3:30 PM


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