GEO 101IN - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

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]

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.

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