Course

Course Summary
Credit Type:
Course
ACE ID:
SDCM-0174
Organization's ID:
Earth Science 104
Organization:
Length:
17 weeks (40 hours)
Dates Offered:
Credit Recommendation & Competencies
Level Credits (SH) Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate 3 introduction to meteorology
Description

Objective:

The course objective is to identify and explain topics in meteorology such as types of severe weather, solar radiation's effect on Earth, air pressure, and skew-T diagrams.

Learning Outcomes:

  • explain key atmospheric variables and concepts and form a concrete understanding of these terms to use in future application of more complex topics
  • understand Earth's atmospheric composition including the past, present, and future composition of the atmosphere and compare properties of Earth's atmospheric levels in terms of temperature, composition, and role
  • analyze how Earth's tilt and rotation affect the magnitude of solar radiation at a particular location as well as defines seasons on Earth
  • outline the process of how atmospheric moisture and processes lead to cloud and precipitation formation and explain how stability, lapse rates, lift, and ccn's affect cloud and precipitation production
  • explain Earth's pressure circulation patterns and how differential heating creates pressure gradients
  • analyze skew-t diagrams to determine stability indices, key atmospheric levels, and potential weather events
  • summarize air masses, fronts and midlatitude cyclones including how they form and affect weather patterns while also explaining the characteristics, formation, and causes of various storm types
  • understand how weather forecasts are made including how products and models are used to create weather maps that are analyzed to make a forecast
  • distinguish between the several factors that impact climate on Earth and how these factors interact to create a region or location’s climate
  • explain Earth's changing climate and how models are used to predict how Earth's climate will change in the future

General Topics:

  • Meteorology terms and key concepts
  • Structure and layers of Earth's atmosphere
  • Solar radiation's effect on Earth
  • Atmospheric moisture and cloud formation
  • Air pressure and wind
  • Skew-t diagrams and atmospheric instability
  • Air masses, fronts and midlatitude cyclones
  • Severe weather types overview
  • Forecasting methods in meteorology
  • Climate and climate change
Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Strategies:

  • Audio Visual Materials

Methods of Assessment:

  • Examinations
  • Quizzes

Minimum Passing Score:

70%
Supplemental Materials