UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, Department of Geography

CLIMATOLOGY (Geography 421/621)

SPRING 2004 Syllabus

Dr. Franco Biondi

Course Description

Our everyday life is shaped by weather and climate, from the daily cycle of temperature to the recurring winter snowfall. Today, climate is no longer considered an invariant manifestation of the atmosphere in contrast to the variable weather, and the disciplines of meteorology and climatology have become even more closely related. The goal of this class is to explore the principles and controls of climate at annual to decadal scales, as well as to examine local, regional, and global climatic regimes. On a broader level, my hope is that students will gain a better, scientific understanding of the physical environment and its dynamical changes around them. The textbook is an excellent source of background information, and additional class material will be provided during lectures. Homework assignments will be aimed at keeping track of weather changes during the semester, and students will be asked to work on a research project. Two field trips are tentatively scheduled, one to a local weather station maintained at UNR by the Western Regional Climate Center, Desert Research Institute (DRI), and one to the Reno office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Service to talk about operational forecasting.

Class Hours and Location: TU. and TH., 2:30-3:45 pm, in 227 Mackay Science Hall

Office Hours: TU. and TH., 3:45-4:45 pm or by appointment. Please come and see me to talk about any questions you might have on the class. I am here for you.

Office: 225 Mackay Science Hall Phone: 784-6921 Email: fbiondi@unr.edu

Web site: http://unr.edu/homepage/fbiondi/teach.html (selected class material, class grades, etc., will be available through UNR’s WebCT system - see detailed instructions below).

Course Materials:

Text Book (required): E. Aguado and J.E. Burt, Understanding Weather and Climate, Third Edition, 2004, Prentice Hall. Available at the Campus Bookstore.
Reading materials (assigned during the class): Will be available at the Reserve Room of the DeLaMare Library in Mackay Mines Building, north end of Quad.

Prerequisite: GEOG 103 or a course in meteorology.

Special Needs. If you require special classroom or exam accommodations because of a documented disability, please let me know at the beginning of the semester.

Grading

All tests count, so make sure you take all of them, and turn in all of your assignments on time. Undergraduate students will be graded according to their score on two Exams, five Quizzes, two Homework assignments, and a Research Report. Graduate students will have additional questions on homework assignments and tests, will be required to present their research project to the class, and also to write it as a Research Paper (see detailed instructions below). There is no final exam because the final week is dedicated to students’ presentations (see detailed instructions below). I will provide a mid-semester grade summary to each student, but make sure you periodically check your grades on the class web site.

Exams are a combination of multiple-choice, fill-in, true/false, and short essay questions. Each Exam covers material presented since the previous Exam. If needed, the entire class meeting time can be dedicated to the exam.
Quizzes include 5 questions, and should take no longer than 10-15 minutes. Each Quiz covers material presented since the previous test (either Exam or Quiz).
Homework assignments include (1) an exercise (drawing a climatic diagram, analyzing climate data) due at a specific time during the semester; (2) keeping a weather/climate log for a town of your choice. This log will consist of daily observations on at least three atmospheric variables (for instance: minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and precipitation). Data can be gathered from the internet (specific web addresses will be provided in class), from a newspaper, radio or television. You will need to keep the log up-to-date because you may be asked to summarize it at any time during the semester.
The Research Project will ask you to focus on a class topic, collect and analyze data, and discuss the results (see detailed instructions below).

Participation is essential, and attendance is required. Please check the calendar and inform the instructor of any schedule conflicts you have. In case additional conflicts arise during the semester, provide advance notice. While some arrangements can be available, students are expected to attend every class, and be ON TIME. Unjustified or unexpected no-shows, as well as repeated tardiness, will affect this portion of the grade.

Grading breakdown

Geog 421 Geog 621

Exams (2 x 100)	200	200
Quizzes (5 x 20)	100	100
Homework (2 x 50)	100	100
Undergraduate Research Report (200)	200
Graduate Research Paper (200)		200
Final Presentation (30)	(50 extra)	50
Attendance and participation (100 or 50)	100	50
TOTAL	700	700

Final letter grades may have a plus or minus according to the following scheme:

A = 93% or higher; A- = 90-92.9%; B+ = 87-89.9 %; B = 83-86.9 %; B- = 80-82.9 %;

C+ = 77-79.9 %; C = 73-76.9 %; C- = 70-72.9 %; D+ = 67-69.9 %; D = 63-66.9 %;

D- = 60-62.9 %; F = < 60 %

Students will be able to monitor their individual grades (including the final letter grade) on the class WebCT site.

Research Project

Each student will be required to complete an original research project. This will expose students to an unsolved question, and to the challenge of finding the best possible answer by means of creative and critical thinking. A research project implies making new observations, reading the scientific literature, and analyzing data. The outcome of the project will be a written report (undergraduates) or research paper (graduates), as well as a class presentation during the final week. The research project will include the following components:

Title
Abstract
Dataset identification

--------- DUE EARLY TO ALLOW FOR FEEDBACK

Justification (Problem analysis)
Objectives
Guide for Authors (graduate students only)

--------- FIRST GRADING (10%)

Background information (Literature review)
Study plan (Methods)
Literature cited

--------- SECOND GRADING (40%)

Results
Discussion and Conclusion
Tables and Figures

----------- THIRD GRADING (50%)

Specific deadlines will be set in the class calendar for each component of the project. Each phase (first, second, and third) will be graded individually, but with a possibility of revision. As usually happens in any research project, ideas and plans are refined as work progresses. By revising their previous work, students will have an opportunity to improve their previous grades. For example: the title, abstract, and dataset identification are due after the first week of the semester, to allow the instructor to give students early feedback on their ideas. The first score (10% of the whole Research Project grade) will be assigned after students turn in the justification and objectives. If the scope of the research is vague and not well justified, the first score will be low. However, this is only an indication that the student needs to work diligently to refine the research question. The second grade (40% of the whole Research Project grade) will be assigned after students submit the literature review and study plan. At this time, if along with the new components students provide a revised research justification and objectives, the instructor will revise the first score as well as assign the second score.

Therefore, with each new phase of the project, students have the opportunity to revise and improve their work, so that they can continue to increase their scores throughout the semester. At the end, undergraduate students are required to provide a class report by joining and ‘cleaning up’ the individual project components. Graduate students will need to submit their research as a paper suitable for publication in a scientific journal. The length of the paper should not exceed 2000 words (excluding references, tables, and figures). While papers from graduate students need to follow the Guide for Authors of a preferred journal, papers from undergraduate students do not. It is recommended to turn in a first draft of the completed project/paper at least two weeks before the final deadline. Although the feedback you receive from the instructor will not include a grade, such early comments are likely to improve your grade. The final version of graduate papers and undergraduate reports will be due the last day of class (check the calendar for details).

Final Presentation

Graduate students will present their research project to the class in PowerPoint format, which can easily be displayed using the smart classroom equipment. Undergraduate students who opt to give a final presentation are eligible for extra credit. Presentations are scheduled for the last week of class. We will mimic the style of professional meetings, with 10-15 minutes allocated to each speaker. PLEASE REGISTER by providing your presentation title and the day/time you would prefer. Each slot will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

Speaking in front of an audience is a useful opportunity to sharpen communication skills. Please try to leave one-two minutes at the end of the talk for questions and comments. Also, students may want to consider the following suggestions:

(1) Make your figures simple and clear. Labels need to be large and visible from a distance. The smart-classroom equipment is very effective at enlarging viewgraphs, but remember that text needs to be readable from the back of the room.

(2) There isn’t much time, and at least one minute should be spent on each illustration. Therefore, restrict the number of slides to those that are most relevant to the project.

(3) Organize the talk. Start with the problem: what was the reason to research this issue?, why should the audience care? Continue with the method: which data were collected?, what kind of analysis was performed? Proceed with the results: what was learnt?, what still needs to be done?

(4) Try to have only one or two conclusion points. If it’s possible to summarize the research in one sentence, please do so at the end of the talk.

How to succeed in this class:

ü Read the assigned sections of the textbook both before and after class

ü Ask questions

ü Be aware of deadlines, and prepare in advance

ü Get in the habit of watching television weather reports and weather maps

ü Keep up with the material that will be placed on reserve in the library

ü Think carefully about your research project

ü Practice your final presentation

Rules of Conduct (the tough stuff):

Attendance. Attendance is required. At the beginning of the semester I will do a roll call or pass around a roll sheet. As soon as I memorize your names, I will remember who attends and who does not. Keep in mind that your grade will improve if you come to class and take notes. Each lecture builds on the previous one, therefore it is important to keep up with the material. Also, BE ON TIME. Coming late or leaving early is a sign of disrespect, and it disturbs everybody else in the classroom. If you have a schedule conflict, please come and talk to me; maybe we can work out a solution.
Exams and Quizzes. All exams and quizzes are closed book, closed notes. It is your responsibility to be on time for these tests and to contact me if there is a problem. Arrival for an exam or quiz after the first person has completed it means an automatic zero on that exam or quiz. Make-up examinations will be given only with an MD’s note requesting permission in the case of illness, or a death certificate in the case of a family death. Medical excuses are invalid if turned in after the exam/quiz has been graded.
Homework: Late homework will not be accepted. Make-up homework will be given only for an official excuse (illness, family death) with proper documentation (MD’s note, death certificate). Homework typically has a brief turnaround time. If you know you will have to miss a class, make prior arrangements with me for returning assignments in advance.

Computer Lab

Each student will have an account in the Department of Geography GIS laboratory. This computer lab has about 20 PCs running Windows 2000. Please read, sign, and return to the instructor the lab Signup Sheet, even if you have already done it for other classes.

ü Turn on the computer monitor (at the end of each session computers are left on, screens are turned off)

1. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to log in

2. A window will come up asking for your Username and Password

ü Username is formed by your last name and first name initial (check with the lab administrator if this does not work)

ü Initial Password should be left blank.

Once you log onto your account, please remember to change your password. You will be the only person to know your password, so please do not forget it!

All of your work needs to be saved inside your folder, which is a subdirectory located on the lab server (check with the lab administrator for the actual path). Anything saved outside of your folder may be lost as soon as you log out. Make sure that each program you use will save files to your subdirectory.

Class web site

The class web site is located on UNR’s WebCT system. You need your UNR netID to enter the WebCT system. To activate your netID, if you have not already done so, please direct your Web browser to http://computing.unr.edu/authenticate.html.

1. Go to http://webct.unr.edu/

2. Click on LOG ON! to myWebCT

3. A window will come up asking for your WebCT ID and Password

***** These are the same as your UNR NetID and Password *****

(Make sure you activate your UNR NetID and Password before trying to access the class web site. Also, once you activate your NetID, it will take some time - at least 5 minutes - before the WebCT system will recognize them.)

After logging, you will be directed to the myWebCT page, which contains a link to all your WebCT courses. For this class, the web site will be used to post any updates to the syllabus, examples of quizzes and homework from previous years, test answers, and your final grade. Please remember to hit the "Reload" button of your web browser to view the most recent changes. Material made available on the web is not intended to be a synthesis of material required for the exams.

NOTE: Although WebCT can be used for virtual discussions, chat rooms, class e-mail, electronic tests, etc., we will not use those functions.

Any updates to the class syllabus, examples of quizzes and homework from previous years, test answers, and your final grade, will be posted on the class web site. Please remember to hit the "Reload" button of your web browser to view the most recent changes. Material made available on the web is not intended to be a synthesis of material required for the exams.

Additional Requirements for Students Enrolled in Geography 621

All graduate students are expected to draw upon their experience and knowledge gained elsewhere to enhance the formation of connections between the topics covered in this course as well as related topics not explicitly covered in the course.

Homework assignments and tests include extra questions for students enrolled in Geog 621. Those questions are aimed at the more advanced aspects of the course subjects. Graduate students are expected to demonstrate a deeper understanding of course material; hence they are graded together as a subset of the total course enrollment using higher standards than those employed for undergraduates.

Students enrolled at the 600-level have to prepare a research paper and a class presentation on a topic of interest to them, and approved by the instructor. As explained above, the research project provides an opportunity for investigating course subjects at an advanced level. The graduate students’ technical presentation increases their ability to speak in front of an audience, and serves as a synthesis experience, combining explicit class material with external, independently researched information to develop a greater understanding of the subject.