METO 111 Meteorology
This course is an introduction to the study of
weather, climate, and the atmosphere. Topics will include solar and terrestrial
radiation, temperature and humidity, cloud formation, air pressure and winds,
circulation and weather patterns, tornadoes, hurricanes, air pollution, and
climate change. For Meteorology Laboratory, see METO 112.
Hours Weekly
3 hours weekly
Course Objectives
- 1. Communicate fundamental concepts in meteorology using appropriate vocabulary, units,
symbols, and notations. - 2. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
solve quantitative problems pertaining to, but not limited to, measurement, unit conversion,
electromagnetic spectra, density and buoyancy, heat transfer, air pressure, adiabatic heating
and cooling, Coriolis effect, wind chill, and weather forecasting. - 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between the sun, earth, and atmosphere,
and correlate these relationships to the global heat budget, seasons/solstices and equinoxes,
global wind and air pressure patterns, global circulations and semi-permanent features, jet
streams, and climatic zones. - 4. Explain, using an understanding of the physical concepts of density/buoyancy, stability, heat
transfer, air pressure, adiabatic cooling and heating, relative humidity, and dewpoint, how
clouds and precipitation form, as well as how vertical and horizontal motions arise in the
atmosphere.
- 5. Discuss the formation of air masses that affect the U.S. and correlate their locations and
meteorological characteristics to the formation of fronts, extratropical cyclones and
anticyclones, frontal systems, and thunderstorms. - 6. Understand the basic concept of extratropical cyclogenesis, as well as its ramifications with
respect to mid-latitude lows/highs, weather patterns, and current as well as expected or
forecasted weather.
- 7. Investigate and synthesize issues relevant to our present-day lives including violent weather
systems, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, weather forecasting, weather optical
phenomena, and climate change.
- 8. Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions to problems in meteorology
Course Objectives
- 1. Communicate fundamental concepts in meteorology using appropriate vocabulary, units,
symbols, and notations. - 2. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
solve quantitative problems pertaining to, but not limited to, measurement, unit conversion,
electromagnetic spectra, density and buoyancy, heat transfer, air pressure, adiabatic heating
and cooling, Coriolis effect, wind chill, and weather forecasting. - 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between the sun, earth, and atmosphere,
and correlate these relationships to the global heat budget, seasons/solstices and equinoxes,
global wind and air pressure patterns, global circulations and semi-permanent features, jet
streams, and climatic zones. - 4. Explain, using an understanding of the physical concepts of density/buoyancy, stability, heat
transfer, air pressure, adiabatic cooling and heating, relative humidity, and dewpoint, how
clouds and precipitation form, as well as how vertical and horizontal motions arise in the
atmosphere.
- 5. Discuss the formation of air masses that affect the U.S. and correlate their locations and
meteorological characteristics to the formation of fronts, extratropical cyclones and
anticyclones, frontal systems, and thunderstorms. - 6. Understand the basic concept of extratropical cyclogenesis, as well as its ramifications with
respect to mid-latitude lows/highs, weather patterns, and current as well as expected or
forecasted weather.
- 7. Investigate and synthesize issues relevant to our present-day lives including violent weather
systems, hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, weather forecasting, weather optical
phenomena, and climate change.
- 8. Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions to problems in meteorology