Weather and Climate - Fall 2008 (GRG301K)

Geography 301K (Unique #37855) TTh 11:00am

WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Fall 2 0 0 8

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND THE ENVIRONMENT / UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

LOCATION AND TIME: Flawn Academic Center (FAC), Room 21, TTh 11:00 - 12:15 p.m.

LECTURER: Troy Kimmel - CV - Biography (E-mail: tkimmel@mail.utexas.edu)
TEACHING ASSISTANT/GRADER: Shari Wilcox (Email: SEWilcox@mail.utexas.edu )
OFFICE: Geography Building (Northeast Corner of 24th Street and Whitis Avenue), Room 340
OFFICE HOURS: TuTh 8:45 - 9:30 a.m. and 1:45 - 2:30 p.m, Wed 10:45 - 1:00 p.m. as well as other times, as needed, by appointment
PHONES: Home Office 335-6472 (times other than office hours), UT Office Private Line 232-1590 (office hours), UT Geography Switchboard 471-5116

CLASS OBJECTIVES:
Our study of weather and climate is intended for Geography majors and others interested in a broad brush examination of the atmospheric and climatic sciences.
This study will be introductory in nature with only a very basic use of mathematics. We will start with a study of meteorology. From this foundation, we will go
into the different aspects of the atmosphere and then, later, into climatological matters and discuss the various climatic regimes including that of Texas and the local area.

ATTENDANCE AND PROMPTNESS:
While this is probably not going to be the hardest course you've ever taken (or will take) in your college career, it is rather intensive.
This is due, primarily, to the amount of material to be covered during the semester. It is, therefore, my philosophy that your success
in this course will vary directly with your class attendance. Be aware of the fact that attendance will be taken on a daily basis and this
information will be used in the computation of your final class grade. Excessive absences will work against you.. while perfect
attendance can help you to the next highest letter grade in borderline situations at the end of the semester.
Our class time is 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursday. Promptness is expected.. you should make every effort to be in the
classroom by 11:00 a.m. Late arrivals are an interruption to the class material being presented and are unfair to your fellow students that
have made the effort to be on time.

GRADING PROCEDURE:
You will be given the opportunity to earn 1000 possible points for the semester. At the end of the semester, 900 or more points will earn you an "A," while
800 to 899 points will earn you a "B," 700 to 799 points will earn you a "C," 600 to 699 points will earn you a "D," and 0 to 599 points is failing (a "F").
Your final grade will be determined by your exact numerical performance on the examinations/popquizzes/exercises as noted.

* Examination #1	200 points
* Examination #2	200 points
* Examination #3	200 points
* Examination #4	200 points
Mid-Semester Place Name Examination	50 points
Participation/Daily Pop Quizzes	50 points
Comprehensive Final Examination	300 points

* Only three of the regular examination scores will count; the lowest of the four grades will be dropped (see MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS). As point out
above, all numerical scores will be added together to arrive at a possible 1000 points at the end of the semester. Regular examinations will be objective (multiple
choice, matching, true or false) and computer graded. If you have a question regarding exams, it is your responsibility to visit during office hours when we will
access your copy of the exam. Any questions regarding exams should be brought forth within two weeks of the exam return date.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information,
contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY.
If you have documentation regarding accommodations from the Dean of Students office, it is your responsibility to arrange to meet with me, in person and
during office hours, as early as possible in the semester to discuss exact accommodations. When you come to this meeting, you will be required to provide
written documentation from the Office of the Dean of Students.

CLASSROOM / CAMPUS EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS:
The status of University of Texas campus activities in times of emergency (i.e., severe/inclement weather) along with some important procedures
in case of emergencies on our campus as well as in our classrooms can always be found on the University of Texas Emergency Web page.
The University of Texas maintains an Emergency Action Plan that addresses emergencies that could potentially affect the University campus and
our community. You can reference the entire PDF document here.
Our UT Siren System is used in times of emergencies when it is necessary for you to "shelter in place" in campus buildings (remain in or go to the
nearest building on campus when the siren is activated and remain there until the "all clear" is given). The UT Siren System, as part of policy, is
tested monthly on the first Wednesday of every month between 11:50 am and 12:00 noon. Please don't take the siren system tests for granted.
Be ready to take action if the siren system is activated!
We will also discuss, during the first class day of the session, our emergency plan for our specific classroom in case of fire, severe/inclement weather
and other different situations. Please take this discussion seriously and ask any questions that you may have!!

UT POLICY ON EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Instructor to student email is a recognized and accepted form of official communication here at the University of Texas.
For the University policy, read this. It is critically important that (1) you make sure to have your current and most
frequently checked email address on file in UT Direct and (2) you check it on a daily basis. I will send class email frequently during the
semester and you'll be given updates and change notices in references to lectures as well as exams.

TEXTBOOK MATERIAL:

We will utilize a textbook, an atlas, and "on-line" web based supplemental information for our day-to-day class business:

Essentials of Meteorology (5th Edition) - Ahrens - Required	Thomson/Brooks/Cole Publishing Company
Goode's World Atlas (21st Edition / Paperback) - Recommended	Rand McNally Publishing Company

Both the textbook and the Goode's World Atlas are available at university area bookstores as well as on the web. Shop around for the best price.

Here are the links for the material contained in our ON-LINE ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT:
           METAR (SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATION) TUTORIAL
           METAR DECODING EXERCISE
           TEXAS WEATHER OBSERVING LOCATIONS
           UCAR LOCATION IDENTIFIER STATION QUERY SYSTEM
           CLOUD TYPE TUTORIAL   (TK's Cloud/Precipitation On Line Module)
           PRECIPITATION TYPE TUTORIAL
           KOPPEN CLIMATE CLASSIFICATION FLOW CHART

MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS:
There will be NO make-up "weekly" examinations under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It's precisely for the reasons of sickness and other unplanned
absences as well as for the occasional "bad" test day that I allow your lowest "weekly" examination score to be dropped. In reference to the place name
examination, a make-up will ONLY be given in emergency written excused absence cases (see UT regulations on excused absences).
Please note that, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, the final examination WILL ONLY BE GIVEN on the scheduled date and time.. make note NOW
of that date and time (see outline).

EXAMINATION DAYS:
In order to ensure honesty in the classroom (and given the class size for this particular class and section), please note that I have set guidelines in
reference to examination days:
              # Beginning with the handout of the examinations, I expect silence
             # All material that you bring with you on examination day will be placed on the floor under your seat
              # No headwear (caps, hats) will be worn while in our classroom, not only for examinations, but anytime for that matter
              # Once the examination is distributed, there will be no leaving the classroom for any reason.

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:

...University of Texas/Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty...
Students who violate university rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties including possibility of failure of course and
dismissal from the University. Since dishonesty harms the individual, fellow students and the integrity of the
University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be STRICTLY ENFORCED.

GEOGRAPHY 301K (FALL 2008) TENTATIVE CLASS MATERIAL OUTLINE

Please note that all dates on the syllabus are VERY TENTATIVE and can and will change during the semester.
The first three test dates are NOT listed on the syllabus.. the exact date will be announced in class a week (or more)
ahead of time.

NEW!!! GRG301K Class Notes - Outline

DATE	SUBJECT MATTER	TEXT CHAPTERS
28 Aug, 2 Sep	The Earth's Atmosphere	Ch 1
4 Sep	Warming the Earth and the Atmosphere	Ch 2
9 Sep	Air Temperature	Ch 3
11, 16 Sep	Humidity, Condensation and Clouds	Ch 4
18, 23 Sep	Clouds and Precipitation	Ch 5
	EXAMINATION #1-- Covers Chapters 1-5
30 Sep, 2 Oct	Air Pressure and Wind	Ch 6
7 Oct	Observing the Weather
9 Oct	Atmospheric Circulations	Ch 7
14 Oct	Air Masses, Fronts and Mid-Latitude Cyclones	Ch 8
16 Oct	Weather Forecasting	Ch 9
	EXAMINATION #2-- Covers Chapters 6-9 and Observations
21, 23 Oct	Thunderstorms (Air Mass vs. Severe); Thunderstorm Hazards	Ch 10
28, 30 Oct, 04 Nov	Tornadoes	Ch 10
6 Nov	Tropical Cyclones	Ch 11
	EXAMINATION #3 -- Covers Chapters 10-11
11, 13 Nov	Global Climate	Ch 13
18, 20, 25 Nov	Global Climate	Ch 13
	--THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY--
2 Dec	Climate Change	Ch 14
	EXAMINATION #4-- Covers Chapters 13-14
Fri / 12 Dec 2008 9 am - 12 noon	FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION	Location TBA

GRG301K CLASS REFERENCE

KIMMEL'S FAVORITE WORLD WIDE WEB WEATHER SITES

...KIMMEL'S IN-CLASS WEBSITES...
HOME PAGE .. GRG301K CLASS SYLLABUS .. FORECAST LABORATORY

...UNIVERSITY SITES...
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN/METEOROLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH/DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY/METEOROLOGY
FLORIDA STATE/ METEOROLOGY

...CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA SITES...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE/NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE/CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA (Free Data Restricted to EDU Domains only!)
U. S. REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTERS
WORLD CLIMATE DATA
WORLD CLIMATE MAPS

...RADAR/SATELLITE DATA SITES...
NASA WEATHER SATELLITE SERVER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE/SATELLITE SERVER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR

...INTERNATIONAL WEATHER AGENCIES...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE/GUAM
UK METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE/LONDON
MEXICO METEOROLOGY OFFICE
CANADIAN WEATHER CHANNEL

...SEVERE STORM SPOTTER/CHASER SITES...
TEXAS SEVERE STORMS ASSOCIATION
STORM CHASER HOMEPAGE

...CLASS INSTRUCTIONAL WEB SITES...
CLOUDS AND PRECIPITATION
TORNADOES: A SATELLITE AND RADAR PERSPECTIVE

ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY (OUR TEXTBOOK HOME PAGE)

PLACE NAME LOCATION LIST - GRG301K

ABOUT GEOGRAPHY - Blank Base Map Website
ON LINE GEOGRAPHY KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

THIS IS A LIST OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS OF WHICH EACH COLLEGE STUDENT SHOULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE. YOU HAVE MORE THAN A MONTH TO WORK WITH THIS LIST, REVIEW YOUR ATLAS SKILLS, AND BY USING YOUR GOODE'S WORLD ATLAS AND GAZETTEER, GET TO KNOW THE LOCATION OF EACH PLACE LISTED.

GLOBAL SCALE FEATURES

EQUATOR
TROPIC OF CANCER
TROPIC OF CAPRICORN
ARCTIC CIRCLE
ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
NORTH POLE
SOUTH POLE
PRIME MERIDIAN
INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE

CONTINENTS

EUROPE
AFRICA
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
ASIA
ANTARCTICA
AUSTRALIA

OCEANS

ATLANTIC
PACIFIC
INDIAN
ARCTIC

SEAS, BAYS, GULFS, STRAITS, CHANNELS, PASSAGES, CANALS, ETC

MEDITERRANEAN SEA
STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
DARDANELLES
BLACK SEA
SUEZ CANAL
RED SEA
ARABIAN SEA
PERSIAN/ARABIAN GULF
BAY OF BENGAL
SOUTH CHINA SEA
GULF OF ALASKA
HUDSON BAY
GULF OF MEXICO
CARIBBEAN SEA
PANAMA CANAL
STRAIT OF FLORIDA
WINDWARD PASSAGE
STRAIT OF MAGELLAN
DRAKE PASSAGE
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE
CAPE HORN
NORTH SEA
YUCATAN CHANNEL
BERING SEA
STRAIT OF HORMUZ
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND

MAJOR ISLANDS AND ISLAND GROUPS

GREENLAND
ICELAND
GREATER ANTILLES
LESSER ANTILLES
BRITISH ISLES
MADAGASCAR
CYPRUS
SICILY
BORNEO
NEW GUINEA
TAIWAN
JAPAN
ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
NEW ZEALAND
AZORES
CANARY ISLANDS
BAHAMA ISLANDS
BERMUDA
TRINIDAD
WINDWARD ISLANDS
PHILIPPINES
SEYCHELLES

OCEAN CURRENTS

NORTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT
EQUATORIAL COUNTER CURRENT
SOUTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT
GULF STREAM
LABRADOR CURRENT
CANARY CURRENT
EAST BRAZIL CURRENT
JAPAN (KUROSHIO) CURRENT
CALIFORNIA CURRENT
ALASKA CURRENT
PERU (HUMBOLDT) CURRENT
EAST AUSTRALIAN CURRENT

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES, PLATEAUS AND BASINS

ALPS
ANDES MTS
ATLAS MTS
BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS
ARABIAN PLATEAU
HIMALAYAS
HINDU KUSH MTS
ROCKY MTS
URAL MTS
CONGO BASIN
GREAT BASIN
AMAZON BASIN
IRANIAN PLATEAU

DESERTS

ATACAMA
GREAT AUSTRALIAN
GOBI
KALAHARI
PATAGONIAN
SAHARA
MOJAVE
SONORA
CHIHUAHUA

PENINSULAS

ARABIAN
BALKAN
CRIMEAN
FLORIDA
IBERIAN
KOREAN
ITALIAN
INDOCHINA
INDIAN
SCANDINAVIAN
YUCATAN
BAJA CALIFORNIA
LABRADOR
PALMER (ANTARCTIC)

NORTH AMERICAN FEATURES

PHYSICAL FEATURES

SIERRA NEVADA
SIERRA MADRE ORIENTAL
SIERRA MADRE OCCIDENTAL
APPALACHIAN MTS
ALASKA RANGE BROOKS RANGE
OZARK PLATEAU
BAFFIN ISLAND
VANCOUVER ISLAND
LONG ISLAND
NEWFOUNDLAND
GULF OF ST.LAWRENCE
PUGET SOUND
JAMES BAY
CAPE HATTERAS
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
TAMPA BAY
CHESAPEAKE BAY
DELAWARE BAY
LONG ISLAND SOUND
GRAND CANYON
LAKE WINNEPEG
LAKE SUPERIOR
LAKE MICHIGAN
LAKE HURON
LAKE ERIE
LAKE ONTARIO
GREAT SALT LAKE
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
COLUMBIA-SNAKE RVR
YUKON RIVER
FRASER RIVER
COLORADO RIVER (W)
COLORADO RIVER(TX)
MISSISSIPPI RVR
MISSOURI RIVER
ARKANSAS RIVER
OHIO RIVER
TENNESSEE RIVER
JAMES RIVER
POTOMAC RIVER
RIO GRANDE RIVER
RED RIVER(N & S)
BRAZOS RIVER

CANADIAN PROVINCES

PRICE EDWARD ISLAND
NOVA SCOTIA
NEW BRUNSWICK
NEWFOUNDLAND
QUEBEC
ONTARIO
MANITOBA
SASKATCHEWAN
ALBERTA
BRITISH COLUMBIA

CANADIAN TERRITORIES

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
YUKON

UNITED STATES

KNOW ALL FIFTY STATES AND THE STATE CAPITAL OF EACH!
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MAJOR CITIES:

NEW YORK CITY
CHICAGO
LOS ANGELES
SAN FRANCISCO
SEATTLE
DALLAS/FORT WORTH
MIAMI
BOSTON
WASHINGTON DC
HOUSTON
ST LOUIS
NEW ORLEANS
MINNEAPOLIS
DENVER
MEMPHIS
ATLANTA
MIAMI
DETROIT

MEXICO

KNOW THAT IT CONSISTS OF 31 STATES AND FEDERAL DISTRICT OF MEXICO CITY
KNOW LOCATIONS OF THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER STATES:

SONORA
CHIHUAHUA
COAHUILA
NUEVO LEON
TAMAULIPAS

OTHER REGIONS

CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION

BELIZE
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
HONDURAS
NICARAGUA
COSTA RICA
PANAMA

CARIBBEAN REGION

PUERTO RICO
U.S VIRGIN ISLANDS
CUBA
HAITI
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JAMAICA

SOUTH AMERICAN REGION

COLOMBIA
VENEZUELA
GUYANA
SURINAME
FRENCH GUIANA
ECUADOR
PERU
BRAZIL
BOLIVIA
CHILE
PARAGUAY
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY

UNITED KINGDOM

ENGLAND
WALES
SCOTLAND
NORTHERN IRELAND

EUROPEAN REGION

FINLAND
SWEDEN
NORWAY
DENMARK
ICELAND
IRISH REPUBLIC
FRANCE
GERMANY
BELGIUM
THE NETHERLANDS
LUXEMBOURG
SWITZERLAND
AUSTRIA
SPAIN
PORTUGAL
ITALY
GREECE
MALTA
POLAND
HUNGARY
CZECH REPUBLIC
ROMANIA
BULGARIA
FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
CROATIA
SERBIA
MONTENEGRO
BOSNIA
HERZEGOVINA
ALBANIA
SLOVAKIA

SOUTHWESTERN ASIA

TURKEY
SYRIA
LEBANON
JORDAN
SAUDI ARABIA
YEMEN
OMAN
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
QATAR
BAHRAIN
KUWAIT
IRAQ
ISRAEL
IRAN
AFGHANISTAN

SOUTHERN ASIA

PAKISTAN
INDIA
BANGLADESH
SRI LANKA
MYANMAR/BURMA
NEPAL
BHUTAN

SOUTHEASTERN ASIA

THAILAND
LAOS
VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
MALAYSIA
BRUNEI
INDONESIA
PHILIPPINES

EAST AND INTERIOR ASIA

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (MAINLAND)
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF MONGOLIA
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (NORTH KOREA)
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA)

NORTHERN AFRICA

MOROCCO
ALGERIA
TUNISIA
LIBYA
EGYPT

SAHARAN AFRICA

MAURITANIA
MALI
NIGER
CHAD
SUDAN

WESTERN AFRICA

GAMBIA
SENEGAL
GUINEA
GUINEA-BISSAU
LIBERIA
IVORY COAST (COTE D’IVOIRE)
GHANA
BURKINA FASO
TOGO
BENIN
NIGERIA
CAMEROON
SIERRA LEONE

EQUATORIAL/CENTRAL AFRICA

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
GABON
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ZAIRE)
CONGO REPUBLIC

EASTERN AFRICA

ETHIOPIA
SOMALIA
KENYA
UGANDA
RWANDA
BURUNDI
TANZANIA
DJIBOUTI
ERITREA

SOUTHERN AFRICA

ANGOLA
ZAMBIA
MALAWI
BOTSWANA
ZIMBABWE
MOZAMBIQUE
SWAZILAND
LESOTHO
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NAMIBIA

FORMER U.S.S.R

RUSSIA
UKRAINE
ARMENIA
AZERBAIJAN
BELARUS
GEORGIA
KAZAKHSTAN
KYRGYZSTAN
MOLDAVIA
TADZHIKISTAN
TURKMENISTAN
UZBEKISTAN
ESTONIA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL DISTRICT
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
NORTHERN TERRITORY
QUEENSLAND
NEW SOUTH WALES
VICTORIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TASMANIA

OCEANIA

POLYNESIA (AREA INSIDE A TRIANGULAR LINE THAT CONNECTS HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
EASTER ISLAND AND NEW ZEALAND - MEANS "MANY ISLANDS."
MICRONESIA (NORTH & WEST OF POLYNESIA - MEANS "SMALL ISLANDS."
MELANESIA (NARROW AREA WEST OF POLYNESIA - MEANS "BLACK ISLANDS," WHICH MAINLY REFERS TO THE COLOR OF THE INHABITANTS OF THESE ISLANDS)

Last updated 06/06/2008 TMK