Instructor: Dr. J.D. Wilson

Office: CCIS Room 3-277

Phone: 780 492 0353

E-mail: jaydee.uu@ualberta.ca

Instructor's Office Hours: Tues, Thurs 15:00-17:00

Lecture Room & Time: BioSci. Room CCIS L2-200

TA: Tarana Mahzabin, CCIS 3-217, mahzabin@ualberta.ca, office hours Tues/Thurs 11:00-12:00

Course Objectives: Atmospheric processes can be described mathematically to produce weather and climate forecasts, predict the spread of hazardous emissions (eg. nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in the Ukraine), and so on. In this course the level of description is mostly qualitative, though we will use a few simple formulae and lots of symbols. The instructor's aim is to impart a broad, intuitive knowledge of atmosphere, weather and climate. We will focus on understanding processes so as to enable a qualitative causal understanding of weather phenomena. There will also be an introduction to weather analysis/maps by way of map discussions.

Lecture Schedule: Over the following 37 class periods we will cover the material of the textbook, less any excluded material (which will later be listed on the web site). Thus there will be about two lectures per textbook chapter. About once per week, class will commence with a discussion of the previous day's weather, including the analyses (maps of present weather), on which we identify weather systems; and the prognoses (computer generated forecasts).

Grade Evaluation

Final grades will be based on your total score on term and exam work:

• Three multichoice quizzes (23 Sep; 12 Oct; 21 Nov), of which each student's best two will count [2 x 10%]
• One mid-term 50-min multichoice examination (28 Oct) [20%]
• Two take-home assignments (due dates 19 Oct, 2 Dec) [2 x 10%]
• Final exam, 120 min, multichoice + short answer (probably 2:00-4:00 pm, Wed. December 14th) [40%]

Distribution of grades in EAS270 will approximate the historical grade distribution for 2nd year science courses.

Resources: Textbook + instructor's lecture presentation files + any other handouts (maps etc., backed up on web) + your own notes.

Courtesy: Please place your cell phone in silent mode during lectures and exams. If you must leave the classroom before class ends, please leave unobtrusively (if you suspect this may happen, please sit near an exit).

Missing work: If (by choice or necessity) you miss the mid-term, or miss more than one quiz, or fail to complete an assignment, then (unless unusual individual circumstances prevail) the weight of the missed work will be deferred to the final exam; however only one item of missing work will be handled that way. There will be no make-up quizzes or term exams, and no alternative dates. If for some unavoidable reason you miss the final exam, you should know that there is a formal procedure to apply for a deferred exam. Compelling documentation will be required of you. The deferred exam, if necessary, will be held during Reading Week at 0900-1100 on Wednesday 22nd February, 2012.

Mandatory Statements

• "Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar."

  Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.

• Academic Integrity: "The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/secretariat/studentappeals.cfm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University."

• Policy statement mandated by General Faculties Council regarding missed exams, etc.

Link to Earth & Atmospheric Sciences home page.

Last Modified: 22 Sept., 2011