MET 4002C-001 - Climatology

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Collins

Lecture : Tuesday and Thursday 1 to 2:50 AM (NES 108)
Office: NES 210, Office Hours: W (1 PM to 3 PM), Tu. and Thurs. (10.45 AM to 11.30 PM)
However, don't feel bound by these hours. Feel free to stop by at any time as I will mostly be around. If you want
to schedule a fixed time or discuss something with me over the phone, please call me at ext.813-974-4242. My
E-Mail address is jcollins@cas.usf.edu
Phone number/Voice Mail: 813-974-4242 Email: jcollins@cas.usf.edu

TA: April Raulerson Email: araulers@mail.usf.edu

Office: NES 217 Office hours: Tu. And Thurs. 12-12:30 pm
CLIMATOLOGY SYLLABUS

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Climatology is a course covering various approaches to understand and identify recent
and long-term climate behavior in different parts of the world. The course begins by defining the different "types" of
climatology. It will be followed by a review of the basic meteorological factors that influence climate. Next,
students will be introduced to a general climate classification scheme based on temperature and precipitation
characteristics. Theories of climate cycles and climate change will then be covered. Finally, climatology will be
related to life on planet earth.

PURPOSE: MET4002C is designed to provide students with a greater understanding and appreciation of climatology
as a discipline within the broader subject area of meteorology. This includes developing an ability to identify the
various subcategories of climatological study, a basic understanding of what factors dictate climate, a knowledge of
rudimentary climate typing, a perspective on theories regarding the evolution of climate, and ideas on how
climatological information can be applied to the human activities.

PREREQUISITES: GEO 3013 (Introduction to Physical Geography) or consent of instructor.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The basic objectives of this course are as follows:

a. Discerning climatology from weather.

b. Knowing the different areas of study within climatology.
c. Understanding of the basic physical processes controlling climate.
d. Recognizing the extent and limitations of the global data gathering network.
e. Comprehending the nature of climate classification.
f. Understanding the concept of climate variability and theories for climate change.
g. Recognizing nature's as well as human's impact on climate and vice versa.
h. Knowing how climatic data can be used to improve life on earth.

REQUIRED TEXT: "Climatology – An Atmospheric Science", John E. Oliver and John J. Hidore, Prentice Hall,
2002.

OTHER USEFUL REFERENCES:

"General Climatology, Fourth Edition", Howard J. Critchfield, Prentice Hall, 1993.

"Physical Climatology", William D. Sellers, The University of Chicago Press, 1965.
"Atmospheric Circulation Systems", E. Palmen and C.W. Newton, Academic Press, 1969.
"The Climate Near the Ground", Rudolf Geiger, Harvard University Press, 1966.
Almost any basic meteorology text book. Also check out the National Climatic Data Center at
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ and the National Climate Diagnostic Center at http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/

GRADING:
 - 20% of the course grade is based on homework assignments/projects to be assigned throughout
the semester.
- 20% of the course grade will be based on eight pop quizzes.
- 30% of the course grade is based on the results of two tests proposed on the following dates (you need to
be in class or check Bb to confirm these dates or to find out if these have been moved).
-- Thursday, Feb 23
-- Thursday, April 4
- 25% of the grade is based on a comprehensive final exam given on the following date:
-- Thursday, May 4th (Exam starts at 1 p.m)
„ All students must take the final exam.
- 5% of the grade will be for participation

The lowest two quiz scores will be dropped before determining your final course average. However, I will not drop
zero scores for missed quizzes.

I will use the following standard conversions to assess letter grades:

A+ = 97-100%, A=93-96.9%, A-=90-92.9%, B+= 87-89.9%, B=83-86.9%, B-=80-82.9%,

C+= 77-79.9%, C=73-76.9%, C-=70-72.9%, D+= 67-69.9% D=63-66.9%, D-= 60-62.9%, F=<60%

ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend class. Role will only be called at the beginning of the semester to
verify rosters. However, be advised that this is not a correspondence course!!! Lecture material will sometimes not
be in the text, yet test/exam material will be entirely based on what was covered in lecture. Hence, good attendance
and note taking are extremely important. Tests will include material up to and including that covered in the class
period just prior to the test period. For the second test, the material for which you will be responsible will begin with
the new material covered following the previous test.

Unexcused absences that result in a missed homework/quiz/test/exam will automatically result in a zero grade for
that measure. An oral make-up exam will normally be given to those in the advent of an excused absence. The only
valid reasons for an excused absence are as follows:
a. Illness documented by a physician.
b. Participation in official college-sponsored activities with appropriate documentation.
c. Death in the immediate family with a note/memo from the Dean's office.
d. Jury duty with appropriate legal documentation.
If you know that you will be missing a class because of a valid reason, let your instructor know in advance whenever
possible.

Students with problems or questions are encouraged to seek additional help from the instructor. The time to ask
questions is before, not after an exam. Students with special problems (learning disabled, hearing impaired, visually
impaired, health problems...) should consult with the instructor and certain considerations may be given.

COURSE POLICIES: No disruption of class lectures will be tolerated. Students disrupting class by talking or late
arrival will be asked to leave. This type of behavior, which is distracting to the instructor and your fellow students,
is not acceptable. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off while in class. Students cheating on exams and other
assignments will be dealt will in the strongest way possible within the guidelines established by the university.

Incomplete grades (I) will not be given in this course except under exceptional circumstances, based on written
documentation, and at the discretion of the instructor. Students who plan to be absent from class due to the
observance of a major religious activity must provide written notice of the dates to the instructor by the second week
of the semester.
 MET 4002-001 - Climatology

1. Introduction to Climatology (Text: Chapter 1)

a. Definitions and Areas of Climate Study

b. Factors Influencing Climate
c. Basic Atmospheric Characteristics
-- Composition
-- Vertical Temperature Structure

2. Solar/Infrared Radiation and Temperature (Text: Chapter 2 and 3 and Page 373)

a. Solar Inputs
-- Seasons
-- Energy Spectrum

b. Disposition of Radiation
-- Reflection (Albedo)
-- Absorption
-- Scattering
-- Transparency

c. Terrestrial Radiation
-- Energy Spectrum
-- Surface Type Characteristics
-- Emissivity

d. Other Forms of Heat Transfer

-- Conduction (Sensible Heating)
-- Convection
-- Advection
-- Latent Heating/Cooling

e. Radiation/Heat Budget

f. Temperature and Temperature Related Variables

3. Atmospheric General Circulation (5, 6, 7 )

a. Atmospheric Pressure

b. Large-Scale Wind Flow Features

-- Meridional
-- Zonal
-- Vertical

c. Large-Scale Horizontal Pressure Distribution

d. Small-Scale Flow Features

-- Land/Sea Breezes
-- Mountain Valley Flows
-- Urban Influences

e. Wind Distribution--Mapping and Plotting

4. Moisture and Precipitation (Text: Chapters 4 )

a. States of Water
b. Phase Change Processes
c. Latent Heating/Cooling
d. Moisture Variables
e. Adiabatic/Diabatic Processes
-- Atmospheric Stability/Instability
-- Clouds and Precipitation
f. Hydrologic Balance/Cycle

5. Weather Disturbances (Text: Chapters 8 and 9)

a. Air Masses
-- Source Regions
-- Classifications
b. Cyclones
-- Semi-permanent
-- Extratropical
-- Tropical
c. Anticyclones
d. Tropical Weather
-- Tropical Storms, etc.
-- Monsoons
-- Easterly Waves

6. Ocean currents and El Nino (Chapter 7)

a. Effects on the climate from El Nino

b. Effects on the climate from La Nina
c. Current state of El Nino/La Nina

7. Climate Classification (Text: Chapters 10,11,12,13)

a. Equatorial and Tropical

-- Rainy Tropics
-- Monsoon Tropics
-- Tropical Arid and Semi-Arid

b. Mid-Latitude
-- Dry Summer Subtropics
-- Humid Subtropics
-- Marine
-- Mid-Latitude Arid and Semi-Arid
-- Humid Continental Warm Summer Climate
-- Humid Continental Cool Summer Climate

c. High Latitude
-- Taiga
-- Tundra
-- Polar

d. Miscellaneous
-- Highland
-- Oceanic
8. Air Pollution (Text: Chapter 19)

a. Primary pollutants
b. Secondary pollutants
c. London type smog
d. LA type smog
e. Pollution trends
f. Topography, stability and pollutants in relation to LA’s air pollution problems
g. Acid rain

9. Climatic Change (Text: Chapters 14, 15, 16, 20)

a. Historical Data
b. statistical analysis of climate data
c. Climatic Cycles/Anomalies
d. Theories of Climate Change
-- Natural Causes
-- Anthropogenic Contributions
e. The climate of the future

10. Climate and Life on Earth (Text: Chapters 17, 18)

a. Biosphere
b. Agriculture
c. Engineering/Industry
d. Humans/Housing

Please note that there may be additional reading which will be handed out.

Please note: Due to the involvement of your instructor at the Association of American Geographer’s conference,
there will be no class meeting on Thursday 9th March, 2006.