GY 101 Section 005: Atmospheric Proc & Patterns
Fall, 2010
4 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: David Brommer
Core Designation: Natural Science
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:00 – 11:00 am; Tuesday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, or by appointment
This course provides a broad overview of atmospheric processes and patterns on Earth. The main objectives of this course are to (a) introduce the physical elements and processes that make up Earth’s atmosphere, (b) demonstrate the interaction between climate and the physical and biological systems at the earth’s surface as well as the human interaction upon these locations and natural processes, and (c) to increase your awareness of the natural environment and the physical processes operating within the earth-atmosphere system. An additional theme of this course is global environmental change related to human activity and natural variability.
By the end of GY 101, students will be able to:
In addition, sutdents will gain experience in the geographic approach to studying Earth/atmosphere relationships by first developing a knowledge of atmospheric processes and patterns and then using this knowledge to explain the behavior of natural systems and their spatial patterns through analysis of weather maps, analog data, and signficant weather events. GY 101 lab focuses on helping students develop general critical thinking skills using geographic techniques of inquiry and analysis through the application of physical geography lecture concepts in lab activities that require analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing geographic data to better understand natural processes operating in the Earth/atmosphere system.
WEEK Lecture Topic (Chapter for Reading) Lab Activity
Week 1: Introduction to GY 101/Foundations of Geography (1) No Lab
Week 2: Geographic Grids/Map Projections (1) 1: Tools of Geography
Week 3: Earth-Sun Relationships (2) 2: Directions/Compas Readings
Week 4: Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere (2) 3: Lat, Long, and Time
Week 5: Exam 1: Chapters 1-2/
Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures (3) 4: Earth/Sun Relationships
Week 6: Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures (3) 5: Temperature Concepts
Week 7: Air Pressure and Winds (4)
Week 8: Circulation Patterns of the Atmosphere and Ocean (4)
Week 9: Exam 2: Chapters 3-4/Atmospheric Moisture (5) 8: Atmos. Pressure Patterns
Week 10: Atmospheric Stability (5) 9: Atmos. Moisture
Week 11: Clouds and Precipitation (5) 10: Atmos. Stability
Week 12: Exam 3: Chapter 5/Violent Weather (5) No Lab
Week 13: Hurricanes (5)
Week 14: Climate Classification (7)
Week 15: Climate Classification/Dynamics of Climate Change (7) 14: Lab Final Exam
Week 16: Final Exam: Comprehensive
Four exams will be proctored during the spring semester. The majority of the exam questions will come from lectures and discussions, with additional questions obtained from the textbook. All exams are objective: true/false, multiple choice, and matching. The questions will tend to be conceptual and comprehensive, which means you need to understand and apply the material, not just memorize it.
WEEK Lecture Topic (Chapter for Reading) Lab Activity
Week 1: Introduction to GY 101/Foundations of Geography (1) No Lab
Week 2: Geographic Grids/Map Projections (1) 1: Tools of Geography
Week 3: Earth-Sun Relationships (2) 2: Directions/Compas Readings
Week 4: Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere (2) 3: Lat, Long, and Time
Week 5: Exam 1: Chapters 1-2/
Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures (3) 4: Earth/Sun Relationships
Week 6: Atmospheric Energy and Global Temperatures (3) 5: Temperature Concepts
Week 7: Air Pressure and Winds (4)
Week 8: Circulation Patterns of the Atmosphere and Ocean (4)
Week 9: Exam 2: Chapters 3-4/Atmospheric Moisture (5) 8: Atmos. Pressure Patterns
Week 10: Atmospheric Stability (5) 9: Atmos. Moisture
Week 11: Clouds and Precipitation (5) 10: Atmos. Stability
Week 12: Exam 3: Chapter 5/Violent Weather (5) No Lab
Week 13: Hurricanes (5)
Week 14: Climate Classification (7)
Week 15: Climate Classification/Dynamics of Climate Change (7) 14: Lab Final Exam
Week 16: Final Exam: Comprehensive
GY 101 is a survey course. This means we cover a lot of information in a fairly short amount of time. The lecture grade is combined with the laboratory grade, so a single grade will be given for the course. You must pass both the lecture and lab to pass the course. Your lab grade will account for 25% of the overall grade. Four (4) exams will be given throughout the semester that account for 70% of your grade. The final 10% of your grade will come from in-class assignments, activities, and quizzes. The +/- grade system is used on a ten-point scale (90-80-70-60). Grade weighting is as follows:
Exam 1: 15%
Exam 2: 15%
Exam 3: 15%
Exam 4: 20%
Lab Grade: 25%
In-Class Activities: 10%
Total 100%
Make-up exams can only be given for verifiable emergencies, serious illness, or your required participation in an official university activity which requires your absence from regularly schedules classes. If you cannot take a regularly scheduled exam, you MUST contact your instructor (via telephone, personal visit, or email) before the regularly scheduled exam or within 24 hours of the exam. You must request a make-up from the course instructor in writing. All requests fro make-up exams will be forwarded will be forwarded to the departmental chair who will decide whether a make-up is warranted. Your request must include your name, your phone number or email address, the reason(s) why you missed (or will miss) the exam, and any supporting documentation as evidence as to why you believe your absence should be excused. All departmental make-up exams will be given on Fridays at 3:00 PM in Farrah Hall room 220.
If you miss the final exam for any reason, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor (via telephone, personal visit, or email) by 5:00 PM that day to arrange for a make-up exam. You must request the make-up exam from the course instructor in writing. All requests for make-up exams will be forwarded to the departmental chair who will decide whether a make-up exam is warranted. Your request must include your name, your phone number or email address, the reason(s) why you missed (or will miss) the exam, and any supporting documentation as evidence as to why you missed the exam.
Any student who has a conflict with the published final examination time must contact the course instructor no later than two weeks prior to the exam to request a change in exam time. All requests must be in writing and must include a copy of the student’s current class schedule. All requests for final exam time changes will be forwarded to the departmental chair who will decide whether a change is warranted.
Lecture attendance is mandatory. You are expected to know everything that is covered in lecture, including announcements, and exames will be based on material covered in lecture. it is your responsibility to collect the material covered if you should miss class.
In addition to lecture, you must also register for a GY 101 Laboratory. You must attend the lab section in which you are registered. You must receive a passing grade in both the lecture and lab in order to receive a passing grade in GY 101. Lab instructors will review attendance and participation issues related to the laboratory.
Tegrity Course Capture and Classroom Response Systems
In addition to lecture material presented in class, you will also have access to a resource called Course Capture. Course Capture allows you access to each lecture presented in class after each meeting. Through the Tegrity course link in eLearning, you will be able to review each lecture, including the Powerpoint slides and the audio recorded during class. More information will be supplied to you on how to use this technology as it is needed.
The Turning Technologies Classroom Performance System (CPS) will be used in this course. The transmitters (clickers) are small, handheld devices used to foster interaction, active learning, and quick feedback for faculty and students. You are required to obtain a clicker as a learning resource (just like a required text). Use of your clicker is part of the course participation requirement. You must purchase and register your clicker prior to the first required usage in class. Please bring your clicker to class on that day prepared to participate. You should register your clicker via the link in eLearning for this course.
Students are expected to bring their clicker to every class session. Your responses to in-class questions will be recorded and will be a part of your in-class grade.
Students may not use other students' clickers; doing so is a violation of academic integrity. Possession of more than one clicker by one student in the classroom is considered academic misconduct and will not be tolerated. In the event that a student is found in possession of someone else’s clicker, all students whose clickers are involved in the incident will be charged with academic misconduct.
Extra credit work will not be offered.
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
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