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GEOG 334
CLIMATOLOGY
- Catalog Entry
GEOG 334 Climatology. (PS)
Three hours lecture (3). Prerequisites: GEOG 130 Physical Geography GEOG 334 deals with meteorological phenomena and their role in the formation of weather. The effects of weather on the environment are studied in the larger context of climate.
- Detailed Description of Content of Course
(1) The Earth's Atmosphere
(2) Ozone in the Atmosphere
(3) Earth-Sun Relationship, Seasons and Time
(4) Radiation Balance
(5) Metric system of units
(6) Heat transfer
(7) Heat, temperature, energy
(8) Temperature gradient Isotherm
(9) Controls of temperature
(10) Cycles of temperature
(11) Global warming
(12) Pressure and winds
(13) Factors affecting winds
(14) Global circulation
(15) Ocean currents
(16) Jet streams
(17) Local winds
(18) Hydrological cycle
(19) Changes of state
(20) Humidity and its measurements
(21) Adiabatic process
(22) Stability
(23) Formation of precipitation
(24) Global distribution of precipitation
(25) Air masses
(26) Atmospheric fronts
(27) Wave cyclones
(28) Weather maps
(29) Severe weather phenomena
(30) Tornadoes
(31) Hurricanes
(32) Weather forecasting
(33) Criteria of climate classification
(34) Koeppen's Climate Classification
(35) Urban climate, human impact on climate
(36) Evolution of climate
(37) Climate of the USA
(38) Climate of Virginia
- Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
GEOG 334 is taught primarily as a lecture-discussion. Films and videos describing the formation of weather and specific weather phenomena (e.g. tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) will be used to complement the lectures. Students will present papers dealing with concrete types of climate and their impact upon land use and cultures in different parts of the world. Metric system will largely be used in the course. Therefore, mastering it will be considered as an important preliminary.
- Goals and Objectives of the Course
Having successfully completed this course the student will be able to:
(1) understand the composition of the atmosphere and vertical distribution of temperature and pressure within it
(2) get a perspective on major climate uncertainties related to the Global Warming and Ozone depletion
(3) to understand the forces that produce winds and precipitation
(4) to analyze relatively simple weather maps, to draw isobars and delineate atmospheric fronts, as boundaries between the weather masses
(5) to understand mechanism of severe weather phenomena
(6) to explain global distribution of climate controls and how do they combine causing specific types of climate
(7) to identify basic consequences of climate regimes implacing land-use and culture.
- Assessment Measures
(1) Examinations. Students in GEOG 334 will take three one-hour examinations and a final exam covering the climate classifications and the climate of the USA. One of the three mid-term exams will deal with metric system.
(2) Problem-solving. Home assignments on various calculations related to specific topics (e.g. calculate temperatures at various elevations resulting from the orographic uplift of the air; calculate noon sun angles, delineate fronts, etc.) will be given.
(3) Paper presentation on climate types and their role in land use.
- Other Course Information
None.
- APPROVAL AND SUBSEQUENT REVIEWS
DATE ACTION APPROVED BY
September 2005Reviewed Bernd H. Kuennecke |