AOSC 100 - Weather and Climate

(NSND, GEEL)

Covers local and global weather phenomena. Topics include global and local energy budgets, geographic and seasonal variation, surface and upper air weather patterns, clouds and precipitation, catastrophic occurrences (snowstorms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods), and global climate change. Using real-time and archived web-based data, students analyze local and regional weather patterns and events. Students may receive credit for either AOSC 100 or AOSC 105, but not both. Assessment Level(s): ENGL 101/ENGL 101A, MATH 050, READ 120. Three hours each week. Formerly ME 100.

3 semester hours

May not be taken concurrently with MATH 017 or MATH 020 or MATH 045 without appropriate Math assessment score.

Course Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course a student will be able to:

Use clouds and optical phenomena as diagnostic tools to determine the state of the atmosphere.
Describe daily and seasonal changes in the vertical structure of the atmosphere.
Predict the effect of changes in atmospheric composition, seasonal changes in orientation of Earth with respect to the Sun, and changes in land cover on air temperature near the surface.
Analyze phase changes of water in the atmosphere and the importance of these phase changes to weather.
Compare and contrast various types of precipitation and fog in terms of their formation in the atmosphere.
Identify factors that influence the speed and direction of wind at various levels of the atmosphere.
Correlate surface winds with upper-level wind flow under various conditions.
Distinguish between frontal and convective storms (i.e. mechanisms and effects).
Analyze characteristics of the atmosphere that cause a current weather event.
Trace stages in the development and evolution of severe weather events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and tropical storms.
Evaluate conditions in the atmosphere to determine the potential for various forms of severe weather.
Compare and contrast various methods of weather forecasting and apply these methods to current weather events.
Synthesize concepts of weather and climate to discuss global change issues.

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