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GEOG 547 / GEOS 547
GLOBAL AND REGIONAL CLIMATOLOGY
SPRING 2012 12:30 –
1:45 pm Tue &
Thu / Education
Building room 502
(classroom is on the 5th floor opposite the elevator at
the east end of the building)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The
goal of this
3-unit
advanced
course in climatology is to provide a detailed description,
understanding, and analysis of the global and regional
weather patterns and atmospheric circulation processes that
produce differences in climates throughout the world.
In
addition to a general overview of global atmospheric
processes and regional climatic patterns, the course will
emphasize the earth's problem climates and those
climatically sensitive zones that are most susceptible to
floods, droughts, and other climatic extremes. The course
will emphasize the interaction between global and regional
climates and the linkages between global atmospheric changes
and regional climatic responses as they are manifested in
synoptic-scale features and processes in different parts of
the world.
Online data resources will provide the basis for an
up-to-date technical analysis of regional weather and
climate patterns.
Prerequisite:
an upper division introductory meteorology or
climatology course, e.g. GEOG 430/530.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
·
to provide
an in-depth treatment of the causes of regional weather
and climatic patterns and processes in terms of synoptic
atmospheric circulation patterns
·
to examine
and analyze regional examples of processes driven by the
energy and moisture fluxes at the global scale
·
to provide
the climatic basis for a critical evaluation of some of the
most urgent regional climate‑related extreme-events
facing us today; especially floods and droughts
·
to provide
a sound climate-based foundation for the analysis of
climatic environments of the past and/or future and a
physical basis for the interpretation of climates in
different parts of the world using modeling and/or
paleoenvironmental techniques
INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Katie Hirschboeck,
Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
Phone:
621-6466
E-mail:
katie@LTRR.arizona.edu
Personal website:
www.ltrr.arizona.edu/~katie
Office:
208 West Stadium Office
Hour: Wed
2:00 – 3:00 pm or by
appointment arranged via email
Dr.
Joellen Russell,
Department of Geosciences
Phone:
626-2194
Email:
jrussell@email.arizona.edu
Personal website:
www.geo.arizona.edu/~jrussell/
Office:
Gould-Simpson Bldg. 309
Office Hour:
Tue
2:00 – 3:00 pm or by
appointment arranged via email
READINGS & REFERENCES:
Articles
in Journal of Climate, Monthly Weather
Review, and related scientific journals will be assigned
throughout the semester. In addition, we will read
selections from the following references:
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Riley, D. & Spolton, L. (1981) World Weather and
Climate, Cambridge University Press (A timeless and
succinct text that explains climate in terms of regional
weather types, illustrated with characteristic synoptic
charts.)
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Bridgman, H.A. & Oliver, J.E. (2006) The Global
Climate System – Patterns, Processes, and
Teleconnections, Cambridge University Press. (This
text was inspired by Trewartha – see following.)
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Trewartha, Glenn T. (1981) The Earth's Problem
Climates, 2nd edition. University of Wisconsin
Press, 372 pp. (This classic text provides a thorough
treatment of the atmospheric processes that are
distinctive to each continent . Although dated, the
climate basics presented are still relevant. Trewartha's
unique insights and explanations are used as launching
points for the "Electronic Atlas" exercises in the
course. )
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Selected chapters in World Survey of Climatology,
volumes 1 through 15, H.E. Landsberg, editor-
in-chief, Elsevier Publishing Company. [QC 981.W67]
Permanently located in the Science Reference Collection.
NOTE: a current world atlas
and/or online equivalent will be needed for geographic
referencing
ASSESSMENT, GRADING, & ABSENCE POLICY:
You are expected to attend every class, prepare required
readings and assignments, and actively participate in class
discussions and activities. Grades will be assigned on the
basis of these expectations and on a grading rubric for
specific exercises. The final grade will be based on the
percentage earned in the following activities. The probable
letter grade cutoffs are: A (90-100%), B (80-89%), C
(70-79%), D (60-69%), E (<60%)
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GRADED ACTIVITY
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%
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Background
Homework
Assignments
( 3 assignments)
&
Electronic Atlas Exercises
(5-6 electronic atlases)
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50 %
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Midterm Exam
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25 %
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Term Project
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25 %
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Total possible
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100 %
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ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
See the UA Code of Academic Integrity at :http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity
You are responsible
for knowing it, understanding it, and adhering to it.
SPRING 2012 TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
(may be adjusted as needed)
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Tuesday
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Thursday
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Jan 12
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Introduction & Overview
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Jan 17
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Insolation & Energy Balance
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Jan 19
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Patterns of the Climatic
Elements:
Temperature
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Jan 24
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Atmospheric Moisture
&
Precipitation
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Jan 26
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Mean Pressure,
Winds, General
Circulation
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Jan 31
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Weather & Climate
Patterns & Processes
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Feb 2
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Synoptic Patterns & Charts /
Circulation
Modes
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Feb 7
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Circulation Modes (cont.)
Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions
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Feb 9
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Hypothetical Continent
& Climate Classification
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Feb 14
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Global Climate Regions
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Feb 16
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Midterm Exam (w/ take-home component)
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Feb 21
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South
America
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Feb 23
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South
America (cont.)
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Feb 28
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North America
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Mar 1
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North America (cont.)
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Mar 6
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North American (cont.)
Electronic Atlas Presentations
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Mar 8
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Electronic Atlas Presentations
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Spring Break Mar 10 - 18
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Mar 20
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Africa
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Mar 22
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Africa (cont.)
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Mar 27
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Europe
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Mar 29
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Europe (cont.)
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Apr 3
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Asia
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Apr 5
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Asia (cont.)
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Apr 10
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Asia (cont.)
Electronic Atlas Presentations
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Apr 12
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Electronic Atlas Presentations
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Apr 17
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Polar Regions:
Arctic
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Apr 19
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Polar Regions:
Antarctic & Southern Ocean
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Apr 24
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Oceania
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Apr 26
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Project Reports
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May 1
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Project Reports
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NOTE: Information contained in the course syllabus, other
than the grade and absence policies,
may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as
deemed appropriate by the instructor
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