METO 111 Meteorology

This course is an introduction to the study of weather, climate, and the atmosphere. Topics will include solar and terrestrial radiation, temperature and humidity, cloud formation, air pressure and winds, circulation and weather patterns, tornadoes, hurricanes, air pollution, and climate change. For Meteorology Laboratory, see METO 112.

Credits

3

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Communicate fundamental concepts in meteorology using appropriate vocabulary, units,
   symbols, and notations.
2. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
   solve quantitative problems pertaining to, but not limited to, measurement, unit conversion,
   electromagnetic spectra, density and buoyancy, heat transfer, air pressure, adiabatic heating
   and cooling, Coriolis effect, wind chill, and weather forecasting.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between the sun, earth, and atmosphere,
   and correlate these relationships to the global heat budget, seasons/solstices and equinoxes,
   global wind and air pressure patterns, global circulations and semi-permanent features, jet
   streams, and climatic zones.
4. Explain, using an understanding of the physical concepts of density/buoyancy, stability, heat
   transfer, air pressure, adiabatic cooling and heating, relative humidity, and dewpoint, how
   clouds and precipitation form, as well as how vertical and horizontal motions arise in the
   atmosphere.
   
5. Discuss the formation of air masses that affect the U.S. and correlate their locations and
   meteorological characteristics to the formation of fronts, extratropical cyclones and
   anticyclones, frontal systems, and thunderstorms.
6. Understand the basic concept of extratropical cyclogenesis, as well as its ramifications with
   respect to mid-latitude lows/highs, weather patterns, and current as well as expected or
   forecasted weather.
   
7. Investigate and synthesize issues relevant to our present-day lives including violent weather
   systems, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, weather forecasting, weather optical
   phenomena, and climate change.
   
8. Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions to problems in meteorology

Course Objectives

1. Communicate fundamental concepts in meteorology using appropriate vocabulary, units,
   symbols, and notations.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam problems

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR1
2. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
   solve quantitative problems pertaining to, but not limited to, measurement, unit conversion,
   electromagnetic spectra, density and buoyancy, heat transfer, air pressure, adiabatic heating
   and cooling, Coriolis effect, wind chill, and weather forecasting.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam problems

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR1
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between the sun, earth, and atmosphere,
   and correlate these relationships to the global heat budget, seasons/solstices and equinoxes,
   global wind and air pressure patterns, global circulations and semi-permanent features, jet
   streams, and climatic zones.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

4. Explain, using an understanding of the physical concepts of density/buoyancy, stability, heat
   transfer, air pressure, adiabatic cooling and heating, relative humidity, and dewpoint, how
   clouds and precipitation form, as well as how vertical and horizontal motions arise in the
   atmosphere.
   

   This objective is a course Goal Only

5. Discuss the formation of air masses that affect the U.S. and correlate their locations and
   meteorological characteristics to the formation of fronts, extratropical cyclones and
   anticyclones, frontal systems, and thunderstorms.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

6. Understand the basic concept of extratropical cyclogenesis, as well as its ramifications with
   respect to mid-latitude lows/highs, weather patterns, and current as well as expected or
   forecasted weather.
   

   This objective is a course Goal Only

7. Investigate and synthesize issues relevant to our present-day lives including violent weather
   systems, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, weather forecasting, weather optical
   phenomena, and climate change.
   

   This objective is a course Goal Only

8. Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions to problems in meteorology

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Exam problems

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

   Scientific Reasoning

   • SR3