METEOROLOGY 3000 - Fall 2005 BEV S 114 M, W, F 11:50 - 12:40
Instructor: John Horel INSCC 483 581.7091 jhorel@met.utah.edu
Text: "Mountain Meteorology" - by C. David Whiteman
U of U Meteorology website: http://www.met.utah.edu
Course Goals:
This course investigates how mountains help to control the weather and climate throughout the western United States. What causes the snow in the Wasatch Mountains to be "the greatest snow on earth"? How can the best places for paragliding and wind surfing be determined? Can clouds be used to estimate winds and stability over nearby mountain peaks? How does the Great Salt Lake interact with the local terrain to develop lake-effect snow storms? Lectures, short field assignments, interactive computer assignments, and the text (Mountain Weather by C. David Whiteman) will be used to answer these and many other questions.
Class Hours: Grading: Grades will be based upon your performance on the assignments, exams, and project and presentation. The weighted contribution of each of these items to your final grade is given below:
Assignments and the project apply and extend what is discussed in class. Much of the most important learning takes place when you are expected to apply the material covered in the lectures. You may work on the assignments and project with other students, but do not copy from anyone. Late assignments are not accepted, so turn in as much as you get done even if that is not everything.
I am available during office hours or by appointment to assist you, if necessary.
Final grades are based on the following scale: Sometimes cutoff points are adjusted to produce more natural
break-points and a reasonable distribution of grades, but please don't
count on it.
Class Project and Presentation:
A prototype automated network of climate monitoring stations may be sited in northern Utah within the next year. The first step in this process is to inventory existing stations in the area. You will assist in this effort by doing a site survey of at least one existing site as well as attempting to identify possible nearby sites in the vicinity of that station that meet specific criteria. Through this project you will gain greater appreciation for what is required to collect environmental information and the microclimates of specific locations.
The basic idea is that you will either be assigned a location or select a particular location by October 5 that is located within an hour of Salt Lake City. You will gather information on that site available from existing databases, visit the site and collect information to be described later, and turn in to me an outline of your information by
November 2. You must be ready to present the results of your data collection and site survey information in a short powerpoint presentation (max 12 slides in 8 minutes or less) to the class by December 2.
Your grade for the project will depend greatly upon meeting the 3 deadlines.
Each student will be assigned an unique station but you may work together in small teams to reduce travel and foster sharing of similar information and data gathering techniques.
Here are further details regarding this project.
Other Class Policies:
There are no prerequisites for the course, but it will require application of basic math skills.
Material covered in this course is applicable to many other disciplines, such as air pollution, wind energy, road weather, avalanches, and fire weather. The human physiological response to high altitude and cold temperature will also be discussed.
Substantial additional time outside of the class is expected to complete reading and other assignments. A field project will require travel in the nearby valleys or mountains that will be scheduled individually or in small groups by students.
Assignments
Midterm 1
Midterm 2
Midterm 3/Final Exam
Project and Presentation
> 90 % guarantees an A or A-
> 80 % guarantees a B+, B, or B-
> 70 % guarantees a C+, C, or C-
> 60 % guarantees a D+, D, or D-
< 60% results in an E
Students must take every exam with exceptions governed by University Policy. Plagiarizing, copying, cheating or otherwise misrepresenting ones' work will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as harshly as permitted under University Policy. Do not break the scientific code of honor.
I will not take attendance, but keep in mind that this course moves at a rapid pace. Missing just one class can result in a lack of understanding in future classes. In addition, some course material that you are responsible for will only be presented during lectures (i.e., will not be found in the text).
ADA Accommodations:
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangement for accommodations. All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services.
