Geography 301K - Weather and Climate (Unique #37290) Spring Semester 2010LOCATION AND TIME: FAC 21, TuTh 11:00am to 12:15pm (Unique #37290)INSTRUCTOR: Troy Kimmel, Senior Lecturer CV BIO (Email: [email protected] )TEACHING ASSISTANT: Shari Adams Wilcox (Email: [email protected] )OFFICE: Geography Building (Northeast Corner of 24th Street and Whitis Avenue), Room 340OFFICE HOURS: TuTh 10:15am-10:50am, W 11:15am-12:45pm / other times by appointmentPHONES: Home Office 335-6472 (At Times other Than Office Hours) UT Office 232-1590 (During Office Hours), UT Geography Switchboard 471-5116CLASS OBJECTIVES:Our study of weather and climate is intended for Geography majors and all others interested in a broad brushexamination of the atmospheric and climatic sciences. This study will be introductory in nature with only a verybasic use of mathematics. We will start with a study of meteorology. From this foundation, we will go into thedifferent aspects of the atmosphere and then, later, into climatological matters and discuss the various climaticregimes including that of Texas and the local area.ATTENDANCE:While this is probably not going to be the hardest course you've ever taken (or will take) in your college career,it is intensive. This is due, primarily, to the amount of material to be covered during the semester. It is,therefore, my philosophy that your success in this course will vary directly with your class attendance. Be awareof the fact that attendance will be taken on a daily basis and this information will be used in the computation ofyour final class grade. Excessive absences will work against you.. while perfect attendance can help you to thenext highest letter grade in borderline situations at the end of the semester.Our class time is 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Promptness is expected.. you should makeevery effort to be in the classroom by 11:00 a.m. Late arrivals are an interruption to the class material beingpresented and are unfair to your fellow students that have made the effort to be on time.GRADING PROCEDURE:Your final grade will be determined by your numerical performance on the examinations as noted (ALL dates, asindicated on outline, are TENTATIVE and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE): Examination #1 200 pointsExamination #2 200 pointsExamination #3 200 pointsPlace Name Examination 50 pointsExamination #4 200 pointsAttendance Pop Quizzes/Exercises 50 pointsFinal Cumulative Exam 300 pointsOnly three of the regular examination scores will count; the lowest of the four grades will be dropped (seeMAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS). All numerical scores will be added together to arrive at a possible 1000 points atthe end of the semester, where, when utilizing the UT “Plus” / “Minus” Final Grade Grading System and applyingit to our 1000 point grading system...900-933 = A- (GPA earned 3.67), 934-1000 = A (GPA earned 4.0)800-833 = B- (GPA earned 2.67), 834-866 = B (GPA earned 3.0), 867-899 = B+ (GPA earned 3.33)700-733 = C- (GPA earned 1.67), 734-766 = C (GPA earned 2.0), 767-799 = C+ (GPA earned 2.33)600-633 = D- (GPA earned 0.67), 634-666 = D (GPA earned 1.0), 767-799 = D+ (GPA earned 1.33)0-599 = F (GPA earned 0.00)All examinations will be objective (multiple choice). If you have a question regarding your exams, it is yourresponsibility to visit during office hours when we will access your copy of the exam. Any questions regardingexams will be brought forth within one week of the exam return date otherwise the grade is considered final.AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA):The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualifiedstudents with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity and CommunityEngagement, Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY, 866-329-3986video phone.If you have documentation regarding accommodations from the Dean of Students office, you mustmeet with me, in person and during office hours, as early as possible in the semester to discussexact accommodations. When you come to this meeting, you will be required to provide writtendocumentation from the Services for Students with Disabilities.CLASSROOM / CAMPUS EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS:The status of University of Texas campus activities in times of emergency (i.e., severe/inclementweather) along with some important procedures in case of emergencies on our campus as well as inour classrooms can always be found on the University of Texas Emergency Web Page.The University of Texas maintains Emergency Action Plans that addresses emergencies that couldpotentially affect the our community. You can reference the various plans here.Our UT Siren System is used in times of emergencies when it is necessary for you to "shelter inplace" in campus buildings (remain in or go to the nearest building on campus when the siren isactivated and remain there until the "all clear" is given). The UT Siren System, as part of policy, istested monthly on the first Wednesday of every month between 11:50 am and 12:00 noon. Pleasedon't take the siren system tests for granted; be ready to take action if the siren system is activated!We will discuss, during the first class day of the session, our emergency plan for our specificclassroom in case of fire, severe/inclement weather and other different situations. Please take thisdiscussion seriously and ask any questions that you may have!!UT POLICY ON EMAIL NOTIFICATIONInstructor to student email is a recognized and accepted form of official communication here at theUniversity of Texas. For the University policy, read this. It is critically important that (1) you make sureto have your current and most frequently checked email address on file in UT Direct and (2) youcheck it on a daily basis. I will send class email frequently during the semester and you'll be givenupdates and change notices in references to lectures as well as exams.TEXTBOOK MATERIAL:We will utilize the following textbook during the semester:Essentials of Meteorology (5th Edition) - C. Donald Ahrens - Required (Thomson Learning)Goode's World Atlas (22nd Edition) - Recommended (Rand McNally)These books are available at the University Coop and other campus bookstores as well throughon-line textbook web sites. Please shop around for the best price.Here are some additional on line links that will be useful in class: METARS / Surface Weather Observations Tutorial ( METAR Decoding Exercise) NCAR /