Courses : Syllabi : 509
Geography 509 Regional Climatology
Instructor
Course Description
To gain a regional understanding of the earth's climates. In order to do so, we will develop basic principles governing atmospheric processes that will make the global distribution of climate meaningful. Different climatic classification systems, both empirical and genetic, will be examined with special emphasis being placed upon Trewartha's classification.
Expected Student Learning Outcomes:
Students taking this course should be able to:
- appreciate the importance of spatial and temporal heat budget variation
- explain the processes that produce winds and the global atmospheric circulation
- understand and appreciate spatial and temporal patterns in atmospheric moisture, air masses, and fronts
- comprehend and predict the spatial and temporal occurrence of Earth's weather systems
- recognize and contrast the global distribution of climates, and understand the atmospheric processes that govern climatic characteristics
Text
The Climate of the Earth, P.E. Lydolph, 1985 (required)
Grading
Two midterm exams (each 100 points) and a final exam (140 points) will be given. These exams will be a mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. The final exam will be partially cumulative, although most of it will cover material presented after the 2nd midterm exam. Grade cutoffs on individual exams and for the course will be determined by a grading curve.
- Midterm 1: 30%
- Midterm 2: 30%
- Final Exam: 40%
Use of Electronic Devices
Laptop computers may be used for note taking, but all other electronic devices must be turned off during class time.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week One | Introduction, Chemical and Physical Structure of theAtmosphere |
| Week Two | Global Heat Exchange; Spatial and Temporal Heat Budget Variation |
| Week Three | Atmospheric Pressure and Motion; Observed Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns |
| Week Four | Atmospheric Moisture; Adiabatic Processes and Atmospheric Stability; Air Masses and Fronts |
| Week Five | Flow Perturbations in Middle and Lower Latitudes |
| Week Six | Midterm One Wind; Forms and Distributions of Condensation and Precipitation |
| Week Seven | Temperature: Controls, Expressions, and Distributions |
| Week Eight | Climatic Classification and Distribution: Considerations and Various Class Classifications |
| Week Nine | Climatic Classification and Distribution: Trewartha's Classifications |
| Week Ten | Climate of North America |
| Week Eleven | Midterm Two Climate of North America |
| Week Twelve | SPRING RECESS |
| Week Thirteen | Climate of Eurasia |
| Week Fourteen | Climate of Eurasia (cont.); Climate of Africa |
| Week Fifteen | Climate of Africa (cont.); South and Central America |
| Week Sixteen | South and Central America (cont.); Australia |
| Week Seventeen | Australia (cont.); New Zealand |
| Week Eighteen | FINAL EXAMINATION |