Official Course
Description: MCCCD Approval:
4-28-1992 |
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GPH214
1993 Spring – 2003 Fall |
LAB 1.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 2.4 Load Acad |
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Introduction
to Meteorology Laboratory I |
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Basic
meteorological and climatological measurements. Prerequisites: None. Corequisites: GPH212. |
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MCCCD
Official Course Competencies: |
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GPH214 1993
Spring – 2003 Fall |
Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory I |
1.
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Describe the basic geographic features of the earth's
surface. (I) |
2.
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Examine the composition of the atmosphere and earth-Sun
relations. (I) |
3.
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Examine the origin and role of energy in the
earth-atmosphere system. (II) |
4.
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Examine temperature and humidity controls/phenomena. (II) |
5.
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Apply field techniques for temperature and humidity
measurements. (II) |
6.
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Compare the relationships between vertical air motion,
clouds, and precipitation. (III) |
7.
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Describe the processes associated with horizontal air
motion and the general circulation of the atmosphere. (III) |
8.
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Examine the development of mid-latitude cyclones. (IV) |
9.
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Analyze components of tropical cyclones/hurricanes. (IV) |
10.
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Interpret weather maps and related forecasting techniques.
(IV) |
11.
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Identify types/origins of climatic data and regimes. (V) |
12.
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Classify global climates. (V) |
13.
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Examine urban and applied climatology. (VI) |
14.
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Compare natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for
climatic variability. (VII) |
Go to Description Go to top of
Competencies
MCCCD
Official Course Outline: |
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GPH214 1993
Spring – 2003 Fall |
Introduction to Meteorology Laboratory I |
I. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE EARTH SYSTEM A. Earth's Surface 1. Geographic aspects 2. Grid system 3. Physiographic and
political features B. Atmospheric and
Earth-Sun Relations 1. Atmospheric composition a. Principal components b. Vertical structure c. Lapse rates 2. Earth-Sun Relationship a. Orbital characteristics b. Solar elevations and
their implications c. Time zones II. ENERGY AND MOISTURE A. Earth/Atmospheric System
1. Global net energy
balance 2. Sources of energy 3. Forms of energy 4. Albedo
of surfaces B. Temperature and Humidity
1. Temperature
characteristics a. Conversions b. Lapse rates c. Global temperature
variations 2. Humidity characteristics
a. Absolute/relative
humidity b. Relative humidity
variability c. Relative humidity
measurement and comparison 3. Field work a. Sling Psychrometer measurements b. Relationships between
temperature, pressure, and energy balance characteristics of various surfaces
III. ATMOSPHERIC
CIRCULATION A. Components of the
General Circulation 1. Vertical air motion a. Atmospheric pressure b. High and low pressure
systems 2. Cloud development a. Cloud types and
associated weather conditions b. Cloud forming mechanisms
c. Geographic areas of
development d. Adiabatic lapse
rates/stability/air pollution 3. Precipitation a. Orographic
processes precipitation b. Droplet growth and
precipitation development 4. Horizontal air motion a. Pressure gradients b. Coriolis
force c. Wind development B. Operation of the General
Circulation 1. Primary wind systems a. Illustration/evaluation b. Global pressure systems c. Surface wind belts 2. Secondary/Tertiary wind
systems a. Monsoon circulations b. Land/sea breeze
circulations IV. CYCLONIC STORMS A. The Mid-Latitude Cyclone
1. Stages of cyclogenesis a. Geographic points of
origin b. Air mass source regions
and characteristics c. Frontal development
(cold, warm, occluded) d. Cyclone motion 2. Meteorological
characteristics a. Precipitation
origin/types b. Pressure c. Winds 3. Severe storm development
a. Thunderstorms b. Mesocyclones
c. Tornados B. The Tropical Cyclone
(i.e. Hurricane, Typhoon) 1. Stages of
development/structure a. Tropical disturbance b. Tropical depression c. Tropical storm d. Tropical cyclone 2. Meteorological
characteristics a. Moisture b. Pressure c. Winds C. Weather Map Analysis 1. Weather station model a. Origin of data b. Plotting of station
model c. Interpretation of model 2. Forecasting a. Locating weather
systems/fronts b. Predicting short-term
weather changes V. CLIMATE DATA AND
CLASSIFICATION A. Climatic Data 1. Calculations a. Mean monthly
temperatures b.
Temperature/precipitation normals c. Temperature normals 2. Graphical plots a. Temperature b. Precipitation B. Climate Classification 1. Koeppen
system 2. Characteristics and
global distribution of the 15 main climatic types 3. Controls causing these
climates VI. CLIMATOLOGY A. Urban Climatology 1. Heat island effect a. Factors for development b. Analysis of magnitude 2. Air pollution a. Atmospheric stability b. Dispersal B. Applied Climatology
(Agricultural Implications) 1. Frost (advection and
radiation) a. Causes b. Methods to prevent crop
damage 2. Wind a. Adverse effects on
agriculture b. Methods of modifying
local climates VII. CLIMATE VARIABILITY A. Natural Variability 1. Vegetation changes 2. Volcanic eruptions 3. El Nino events B. Potential Human Impacts 1. Global warning due to
greenhouse gas increases 2. Role of deforestation 3. Desertification |