METR 102 - Introduction to the Weather and Climate w/Lab

6 CR

Introduces the study of the weather, including atmospheric properties and processes that control temperature, wind, precipitation, and storm systems. Students also discuss weather forecasting, air pollution, and climate change. Students will explore atmospheric processes by working hands-on with real-world weather and climate data in the weekly labs.

Either METR 101 or METR 102 may be taken for credit, not both. Note: This course fulfills the Natural Science w/Lab distribution requirement for AAS-DTA.

Course Outcomes

Diagram the vertical structure of the Earth’s atmosphere and explain the concepts of density, pressure, and temperature, and how each varies vertically in the atmosphere.
List the major constituent gasses of the atmosphere, and describe the special roles played by water in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Visually identify and classify clouds into the four main cloud families and ten main types.
Summarize the concepts of energy and heat transfer in the atmosphere, and identify the primary components of the Earth-atmosphere heat balance.
Apply the concepts of forces and force balances in diagramming and describing the nature of atmospheric motions.
Analyze data on air pressure, temperature, humidity, and winds, and use this data to infer the state of the atmosphere
Show how fronts are formed at the boundaries between air masses, and explain how such boundaries contribute to the formation of various types of storms that occur on Earth, including mid-latitude cyclones, tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.
Use upper-air and surface meteorological charts to interpret and explain the evolution of weather systems.
Evaluate the effectiveness of various weather forecasting techniques, and explain the main limitations inherent in weather predictions.
Describe the most important anthropogenic effects on the Earth’s atmosphere, including air pollution and global warming.

GenEd Outcomes: Creative and Critical Thinking

Scientific Inquiry (Nature of Science)

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