Geography 301K - Weather and Climate (Unique #37485) Spring Semester 2011LOCATION AND TIME: FAC21, TuTh 11:00am to 12:15pmINSTRUCTOR: Troy Kimmel, Senior Lecturer CV BIO (Email: [email protected] )TEACHING ASSISTANT: Chris Ulack (Email: [email protected] )OFFICE: Geography Building (Northeast corner of 24th Street and Whitis Avenue), Room 340OFFICE HOURS: TuTh 10:15 to 11:00am; We 10:30am to 12:15 noon / other times by appointmentPHONES: Home Office 335-6472 (At times other than office hours) UT Office 232-1590 (Office hours only), 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 11:00am to 12:15pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. Promptness is expected; you should makeevery effort to be in the classroom by 11:00am. 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.TEXTBOOK MATERIAL:We will utilize the following textbook during the semester:Essentials of Meteorology (6th 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 / World Wide Location Identifier List ( NWS Location ID Query System) Kimmel’s Cloud /Precipitation Types Tutorial ( On Line Learning Module) Kimmel’s Severe and Unusual Weather Tutorial ( On Line Learning Module) Koppen Climate Classification Flow ChartNCDC / Local Annual LCD Documents in PDF Texas Climate Normals 1971-2000 Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport (ID: KAUS): 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Austin City (Camp Mabry) (ID: KATT):1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS:There will be NO make-up "weekly" examinations under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It's precisely forthe reasons of sickness and other unplanned absences as well as for the occasional "bad" test daythat I allow your lowest "weekly" examination score to be dropped. Please note that you are requiredto take the final exam on the date and time as specified by the University (no excused absences).EXAMINATION DAYS:In order to ensure honesty in the classroom (and given the class size for this particular class andsection), please note that I have set guidelines in reference to examination days:# Beginning with the handout of the examinations, I expect silence# All material that you bring with you on examination day will be placed on the floor under your seat# No headwear (caps, hats) will be worn while in our classroom on examination days# Once the examination is distributed, there will be no leaving the classroom for any reason.UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS / POLICY ON SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:In this class, there is zero tolerance for students who violate university rules on scholastic dishonestywith all suspected cases turned over to the University’s Dean of Students office. Penalties forscholastic including possibility of failure of course and dismissal from the University. Sincedishonesty harms the individual, fellow students and the integrity of the University, policies onscholastic dishonesty will be STRICTLY ENFORCED in this class.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