University of Waterloo Department of Geography and Environmental Management GEOG 309 – “PHYSICAL CLIMATOLOGY: THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES” Cristina Surdu Fall 2013 MW: 11:30 – 12:50 Lecture Room: EV3 1408 Office: RAC1 3113  888-4567 x38368 email: [email protected] Office hours: Monday, 1:30 – 3:30 pm Source: Hare, F.K., Thomas, M.K., 1979. Climate Canada, Wiley Publishers, Canada, 230 pp. COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, a conceptual model of the climate system that includes the human dimensions is presented. The climate system is defined as the atmosphere and its interaction with the ocean, ice and land surfaces. The concepts of feedbacks and thresholds as they relate to this system are introduced and the significance of the points of human leverage is discussed. Subsequently, individual components of the system are examined in detail. The objective is to have a clear understanding of how the various components of the climate system interact and how humans are in a position to become a major force in the process flows within this system. Current climate topics such as global warming, El Niño, La Niña, and their effect on the Canadian climate are discussed throughout the course. The lecture topics of this course are illustrated as follows: -2- COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, each student will be able to discuss the following: 1) How do the fundamental geographical processes explain my daily experience of weather and climate? 2) What is the impact of my daily activities on regional and global climate change and variability? 3) What is my effective contribution to issues presented in the public and professional debate on climate change and variability? 4) How can I explain my understanding of the issues of climate change and variability ideas to others with confidence and persuasion? Course Resources: COURSE TEXTBOOK: WEATHER AND CLIMATE, AN INTRODUCTION, S. LOUDON ROSS, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 510 PP ($149.95). The textbook is also available as an e-book that can be purchased for $79.95 for 180 days at http://www.coursesmart.com/weather-and-climate-an-introduction/ross/dp/9780199000661 Hard copies of the textbook are available on course reserve (3 hours) at Dana Porter library. Note that there will be interactive quizzes in class using ‘Top Hat’ technology to be purchased online. Each student is responsible for creating an individual ‘Top Hat’ account. PLEASE NOTE Examinations: It is the student’s responsibility to be available to write exams in the scheduled times. The two midterm exams will be held in class during the lecture period. The exams are mandatory, and no alternative exam dates are possible. If you miss an exam due to a valid medical reason, personal or family emergency, etc., contact me immediately, and promptly obtain a valid medical or counselor’s note explaining the reason for your absence, degree of incapacitation, dates covered by the note, etc. The note does NOT guarantee an alternative arrangement. Please provide the original of the note to me in person. Do NOT have another person deliver it and do not slip it under my office door where it may be dislodged by cleaners and never found again. Assignments: A detailed description including due date, requirements and marking scheme of each assignment will be posted UW-DTL. Please note that late hand-ins of assignments will not be accepted and those assignments will not be marked unless valid documentation explaining the reason of any specific occurrence is provided. -3- In class quizzes: There will quizzes during class using ‘Top Hat’ technology. For additional information and documentation on ‘Top Hat’, please see https://tophat.com/. To create your student account, please go to https://tophat.com/signup. The quizzes will be a series of five tests graded out of a total of 25 marks using the ‘Top Hat’ system. These will be one-word answer questions or multiple-choice of ten questions, each worth ½ mark. The student will be told in the previous class that there will be a marked quiz. Each quiz with more than 7 questions answered will get 1 participation mark in addition to the grade out of 5. There will be a total of 10 marks assigned for participation if the student answers 70% of the quizzes. UW-DTL: is the web site for all official marks, notices and course materials. This hardcopy course outline is the only handout you will receive. All other information will be on UWDTL (https://learn.uwaterloo.ca). There is a pop-up window at the “?” for student help and log-in procedures. You can access help also at < http://av.uwaterloo.ca/d2l/student/9.2.1%20Learner%20Help/Online_Help_9.2.1.htm >. Email correspondence: Any email correspondence between students and myself will only be through University of Waterloo email accounts and UW-DTL. There will be no exceptions. We will not send email notices, etc. through a hotmail account, for example. -4- COURSE STRUCTURE AND EVALUATION: Course Learning Outcomes/Goals Understand physical processes of climate and weather Analysis of daily weather events during the course Teaching and Learning Methods % Grade ‘Top Hat’ tests Participation marks 25 10 Two mid-terms 40 Daily weather briefing Analysis of sequence of weather maps in class workshop as groups of four and explain the sequence and processes of weather in Southern Ontario 15 In class tutorial, online resources Climate model run, assess model outputs and provide an eightpage report as groups of four Lectures and text readings or Climate modeling alternative assignment Assessment Methods Assess public debate on Lectures, readings, in class climate change and variability video, online resources, debate in class Two-page discussion and two-slide presentation 10 Electronic copies of lecture notes: Lecture notes will be posted on UW-DTL. Also instructions to students, other course materials, grades and this course outline will be available through UW-DTL. -5- GEOGRAPHY 309 COURSE CONTENT: Week # Date Topic 1 Sept. 9 Sept. 11 Sept. 16 Sept. 18 Sept. 23 Sept. 25 4 Sept. 30 5 Oct. 2 Oct. 7 Oct. 9 Course Introduction and Climate Model Tutorial Video: “Six degrees could change the world” Climate Variability and Change: 1 Climate Variability and Change: 2 The Composition and Behavior of the Atmosphere: 1 The Composition and Behavior of the Atmosphere: 2 The Role of Carbon Dioxide and Trace Gases in Current and Future Climate Energy Flow in Climate Processes: 1 Energy Flow in Climate Processes: 2 Energy Flow in Climate Processes: 3 Oct. 14 Oct. 16 Oct. 21 Oct. 23 Thanksgiving holiday Atmospheric Stability In Class Mid-Term TEST ONE Circulation Processes: 1 Oct. 28 Oct. 30 Nov. 4 Nov. 6 Nov. 11 Nov. 13 Nov. 18 Nov. 20 Nov. 25 Nov. 27 Circulation Processes: 2 Climate Models and Circulation Processes: 3 Global Linkages and Teleconnections Weather Processes: 1 Weather Processes: 2 Weather Processes: 3 Weather Forecasting and Weather Processes: 4 In Class Mid-Term TEST TWO Regional Climate and Weather of Southern Ontario Climate Change and Arctic Warming; Debate on Climate Variability and Change Presentations Debate on Climate Variability and Change Presentations 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Dec. 2 -6- Readings Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 7, 24-28 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 8 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 9, 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 THE LEGAL STUFF: Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. [check www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/ for more information.] Consequences of Academic Offences: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm Within ENV, those committing academic offences (e.g. cheating, plagiarism) will be placed on disciplinary probation and will be subject to penalties which may include a grade of 0 on affected course elements, 0 on the course, suspension, and expulsion. Students who believe that they have been wrongfully or unjustly penalized have the right to grieve; refer to Policy #70, Student Grievance, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm ENV students are strongly encouraged to review the material provided by the university’s Academic Integrity office (see: http://uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/Students/index.html). Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity [check www.uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/] to avoid committing an academic offence and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course instructor, academic advisor, or the undergraduate Associate Dean. For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71, Student Discipline, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm. For typical penalties, check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/guidelines/penaltyguidelines.html. -7- Appeals: A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 (Student Petitions and Grievances) (other than a petition) or Policy 71 (Student Discipline) may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 (Student Appeals) www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm. Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm. When in doubt please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance. -8-