Semester / Course Code / Time / Room

Fall, 2007
#1806  /  8-8:50 a.m. MWF  /  019 Phelps
#1807  /  9-9:50 a.m. MWF  /  019 Phelps


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Office / Phone / Fax / E-Mail

128 Phelps Building        330-941-1801 (voice)           330-941-1802 (fax)         wrbuckler@ysu.edu
Click on Schedule for my office hours.

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A consideration of weather elements and controls, their interrelationships and the natural laws that govern them.  Focus is on both global-scale atmospheric processes and localized factors that influence weather conditions and patterns.  A portion of the course will require access and use of material on the Internet.

Three Semester hours of General Education credit in the National Science Domain is satisfied by this course.  This also satisfies General Education Natural Science credit in the quarter system plan for those students enrolled at YSU prior to Fall, 2000.

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• to explain how weather works - how scientific laws and principles govern the circulation of the atmosphere and the day-to-day occurrences of weather events;
• to give insights into the science behind the local weather forecasts and weather/climate events/conditions in the news;
• to understand why weather varies over time and space, globally and specifically within the midlatitudes;
• to interpret weather data as presented on maps;
• to describe the various methods for monitoring the atmosphere and weather;
• to explain the evolution & structure of the atmosphere;
• to trace the flow of energy into & out of the earth-atmosphere system along with associated energy transformations;
• to account for the changing of the seasons;
• to present the relationships between unequal rates of radiational heating & cooling & the circulation of the atmosphere;
• to discuss the various forces involved in atmospheric circulation;
• to describe the role water & its phase changes play in weather processes;
• to identify the major components of the planetary-scale circulation & explain their roles in the global climate;
• to describe the features & interrelationships of mid-latitude weather, to include air masses, fronts, pressure systems & upper-level winds;
• to present the characteristics, life cycles & hazards of thunderstorms, tornadoes & hurricanes;
• to illustrate how weather influences our daily lives in innumerable and often unconscious ways;
• to describe how humans influence climatic change and extreme weather events and what can be done to mitigate those impacts;
• to introduce the availability of weather/climate data through the Internet;
• to foster understanding of key meteorological concepts & processes, critical thinking skills, & the scientific method by completing appropriate exercises;
• to foster skills necessary to locate, retrieve, analyze, & display relevant weather data from the Internet.
 
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Moran, Joseph.  2006 (3/e).  Weather Studies: Introduction to Atmospheric Science.  American Meteorological
Society.

Buckler, William R.  Reference Manual for GEOG 2630.  (Available only at the YSU Bookstore.)

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Readings from the textbook and supplemental readings from my Web or other Internet sites

4 or 5 tests (40-60 points each; non-comprehensive last test during the final exam period)

Out-of-class concept/process exercises, typically 1-3.

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To a considerable degree, this course requires class attendance & participation; most of the exam questions are from classroom lecture & multi-media material.  This means that if you choose to miss class you may find yourself in jeopardy. Because of the nature of the course topics, the complex interrelationships between weather elements, & the limited contact hours, it is unlikely that you will fully comprehend & retain all of the concepts and information that are discussed in the lecture without reading & studying the textbook.  Thus, the lectures and assigned reading are complementary parts of the course.  Also, concept/process exercises and supplementary readings from the Internet may be assigned to foster better understanding of course material

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A set of lecture outlines and diagrams has been prepared and is available at the YSU Bookstore.  The outlines note the more important information, principles & concepts discussed in class.  But do not be deluded into thinking the outlines are a substitution for not attending class sessions or for not reading the textbook.  They are specifically designed to assist you in note-taking but not as a replacement for attending the lectures.  Warning: Evidence is clear that reliance only on the outlines without benefit of attending class & studying the textbook is detrimental to full course material comprehension & final grade attainment.

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Four to five test will be administered during the term. The last test during the final exam period will cover only material since the previous test.  All are of the objective variety: multiple guess, true/false & matching.  You will find them challenging & comprehensive, but fair.  Questions are designed to ascertain whether you understand the main concepts & processes and not whether you have memorized a list of unrelated facts gleaned from the lectures & book.  To be successful in the course, you have to devote some attention to the material on a continuing basis.  Looking over your notes for the first time for an hour or two the night before a test will not likely earn you a commendable grade.

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Several out-of-class exercises and online modules are assigned and are designed to increase your understanding of a specific weather concept or process.  Each will take about 2-3 hours to complete and will typically be distributed via my online syllabus (http://www.as.ysu.edu/~wbuckler/Weather/syllabus.html) or from other URLs.   Additionally, one or more Web-based supplementary readings are assigned for many topics discussed in class.

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To encourage class attendance, about 5 times during the term I will give unannounced quizzettes, each of which can earn you up to 3-5 bonus points.  These are “free” points and are not calculated into the maximum possible points you can earn for the course.  These extra points serve as a  curve for the course and provide you with an opportunity to earn additional points to offset a lower grade on a test.  A maximum of ~15 points will be available for this purpose.  You will not be penalized for incorrect answers on the quizzettes – missed points just means missed opportunities for bonus points.  There are NO MAKEUPS on these quizzettes –  you must be in class  the day when each is given – NO EXCEPTIONS.

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I urge class participation.  In fact, I will engage you each class session.  I frequently and with abandonment ask lots of questions in class, both to see whether you have comprehended the material and to keep your attention.  Although it would be nice, I realize that you may not always have the correct response to my questions.  In that case, you have the right to ask anyone adjacent to you (to your right or left, back or front, or diagonally) to help you out.

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I do not object to drinking/eating in class as long as you remove your cans, cups & wrappers when you leave.  I will frequently have my coffee mug with me in class and, if I missed breakfast or lunch, I reserve the right to graze on any food you might bring into the room.    And I will even overlook that rare time when you  nod off to sleep because of the all-nighter you just pulled (whether it was studying for an exam, writing a term paper or solving personal problems at Pogos).  But I tend to call on you more frequently if you habitually drift off in class or skip lectures regularly.  I expect your cell phone to be turned off while in my class.  I will not look favorably upon you if your cell phone rings and, if it does, I will ask to answer it.

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Grades must be assigned, however unreliable they sometimes may seem.  The points you earn on your exams & on other assignments will be totaled and a letter grade assigned based on the following distribution:
        GRADE          % of Total Course Points Earned
                                             A                        90  to  100%
                                             B                        80  to  89.9%
                                             C                        70  to  79.9%
                                             D                        60  to  69.9%
                                             F                        less than 60%
Bonus points for attendance are not included in the maximum possible number of points earned.

Geography Department Grading Policy

1. No exam or final course grades will be publicly posted.  (The department interprets the privacy law very conservatively.)
2. Exam grades only will be conveyed to you in person; please do not telephone inquiring about test scores.
3. Prior to receiving your grade from the registrar’s office, your final course grade may be obtained only from me, either in person or by providing me with a self-addressed, stamped postcard or envelope.
4. Your final course grade will not be given to you by the departmental secretary, so please do not ask her to do so.
Incomplete Grades
University policy requires that a grade of “incomplete” (I) may be assigned only if the following conditions are met:
1. The student must request the incomplete.
2. The student’s previous work in the course must have been satisfactory.
3. The reason(s) given must be beyond the student’s control & deemed justifiable by the instructor.
4. In no case may a grade of “incomplete” be given to allow a deficient student time to avoid failing a course.

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USAToday Weather Homepage
        http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wfront.htm

USAToday How Weather Works: Guide to the Science of the Atmosphere
        http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wworks0.htm

USAToday Weather Topics Index
        http://www.usatoday.com/weather/index/windex.htm