EAS (0112) 305 - Weather and Climate: An Introduction to Meteorology

Credits: 3.00

Students will explore the Earth’s atmosphere, its structure, composition, and evolution. Atmospheric data is measured, collected, analyzed, and used to report weather conditions and make predictions. Class work includes mapping projects, weather forecasting, hurricane tracking, construction of weather maps, and computer modeling of atmospheric processes.

Course Learning Goals: Students will:
(1) define terminology commonly used in meteorology.
(2) briefly summarize and describe global, regional, and landscape scale atmospheric processes and weather systems.
(3) develop attention to detail and critical thinking skills that will serve well in this course and beyond by enabling the student to identify and analyze atmospheric problems.
(4) synthesize the important concepts in meteorology by understanding the step-by-step mechanisms by which weather processes work and describe the complex interactions between the various elements of the atmosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere.
(5) describe how the conditions of the atmosphere are measured, how scientists are collecting and inputting data to understand current atmospheric conditions and predict the weather.
(6) evaluate how human activities are altering atmospheric processes and recognize their own contribution to these problems.
(7) apply methodologies used to collect and analyze data and interpret the data through class exercises/assignments.
(8) demonstrate and calculate various applications and principles of meteorology through a series of class exercises that mesh with the lectures and readings.
(9) prepare future science teachers with the fundamental knowledge to teach middle school or high school level.