Oct 04, 2024  
2023-2024 College Catalog 
    
2023-2024 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

GEO 101IN - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

4 Credits, 6 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 3 lab periods

Introduction to the physical elements. Includes earth-sun relationships, atmospheric processes, global heat balance, global pressure and temperature patterns, annual weather and climate patterns, weather and air pollution, urban influences on weather and climate, and climatic change. Also includes weather and people, wave cyclones of middle latitudes, weather maps and weather prediction, basic ecological principles, and energy.

Gen-Ed: Meets AGEC - SCI; Meets CTE - M&S.



Button linking to AZ Transfer course equivalency guide  

Course Learning Outcomes
  1. Identify the fundamental atmospheric processes that cause Earth’s weather and climate patterns. [Problem Solving, Creative Thinking, Global Learning]
  2. Identify the causes and consequences of weather disturbances and hazards, and their impact on humans. [Quantitative Literacy, Global Learning, Inquiry Analysis]
  3. Use and analyze maps, especially weather maps. [Problem Solving, Quantitative Literacy, Critical Thinking]

Performance Objectives:
  1. Discuss the basic principles and weather climate on this planet.
  2. Discuss the interrelationship of weather and climate and people.
  3. Discuss the interrelationship of atmospheric processes, such as weather and climate, with certain physical and biological processes that lead to the development of ecosystems and various soil types.
  4. Relate the appropriate aspects of the preceding to national and global energy resources, their utilization and conservation, and current energy issues.
  5. Discuss current ideas on factors affecting climate and weather, as well as recent occurrences and phenomena.

Outline:
  1. Earth-Sun Relationships
    1. Seasons
    2. Impact of earth’s changing orientation
    3. Equinox
    4. Solstice
  2. Atmospheric Processes
    1. Composition of atmosphere
    2. Photosynthesis
    3. Respiration
    4. Carbon Cycle
  3. Global Heat Balance
    1. Absorption
    2. Reflection and scattering
    3. Transmission
    4. Solar radiation
    5. Energy transfer
    6. Greenhouse effect
  4. Global Pressure and Temperature Patterns
    1. Physical principles of global pressure
    2. Measuring pressure
    3. Wind in relation to pressure gradients
    4. Impact on temperature
  5. Annual Weather and Climate Patterns
    1. Climate classifications and groups
      1. Low-Latitude Climates
      2. Midlatitude Climates
      3. High-Latitude Climates
    2. Climate Change
  6. Elements of Weather and their Relationship to Air Pollution
    1. Air pollutants
    2. Fallout/washout
    3. Smog/Haze
    4. Inversion
  7. Urban Influences on Weather and Climate
    1. Urban heat islands
    2. Radiation effects
    3. Heat storage and transfer
  8. Climatic Change
    1. Shifting characteristics
    2. Weather variability
    3. Carbon cycle
    4. Future challenges, adaptations, consequences, and projections
  9. (Severe) Weather and People
    1. Humidity
    2. Clouds and fog
    3. Precipitation
    4. Thunderstorms
    5. Wind
    6. Tornadoes
    7. Cyclones and Anticyclones
  10. Weather Systems
    1. Air mass and fronts
    2. Tropical disturbances
    3. Easterly waves
    4. Conditions needed to form hurricanes
  11. Introduction to Basic Ecological Principles
    1. Energy and matter flow
      1. Food web
      2. Photosynthesis and Respiration
      3. Net primary production
      4. Biochemical cycles
    2. Ecological succession, change, equilibrium
    3. Biomes
    4. Agriculture (Soils/Climate)
  12. Energy
    1. Current resources
    2. Alternate resources and development
    3. Current energy issues
  13. Lab Exercises and Activities Related To:
    1. Map reading concepts and interpretation
      1. Direction
      2. Scale
      3. Location (i.e. latitude and longitude)
      4. Symbols
    2. Isolene Line (Weather) Maps
    3. Weather Prediction
      1. Temperature
      2. Rainfall
      3. Barometric Pressure


Effective Term:
Full Academic Year 2019-20