GEO 123:
WEATHER AND CLIMATE

COURSE TOPICS AND WWW LINKS

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GEOGRAPHY-GEOLOGY HOMEPAGE

The highlighted items in the syllabus below contain links related to that part of the course.
Some general links may also be found here.

A. Introduction to the atmosphere
     - the atmosphere as the medium of climate
     - composition, structure, pressure

B. Stratospheric ozone
     - stratospheric chemistry
     - Rush Limbaugh et al.

H. Pressure, wind, global circulation
     - pressure, pressure gradients, isobars,
       vertical motion, local winds
     - global scale circulation, Coriolis effect,
       vorticity, geostrophic winds, surface winds
     - tropical and sub-tropical circulation,
       mid-latitude circulation
     - seasonal change
C. Energy
     - energy balance, global average temperatures,
       "Greenhouse Effect"
     - cause and role of global atmospheric and
       oceanic circulation

D. Global warming
     - the past and future of global warming
     - competing effects and uncertainties

 I. Global precipitation patterns
    - zonal model and actual distribution
    - North American pattern
    - spatial and temporal pattern of variability
    - natural variability (El Nino/Southern Oscillation,
      North Atlantic Oscillation)
    - human impacts, Sahel, CO2 and general circulation,
     Amazonian deforestation
E. Temperatures
    - seasons and solar radiation
    - temperature
    - global and North American temperature
      distributions
    - urban heat islands
    - nature and use of temperature data		 J. Water budgeting
    - measuring the adequacy of precipitation
      in relation to environmental potential

K. Climate regions of the earth
     - climate classification systems
     - summary of temperature and precipitation
       patterns using Koppen's system
     - vegetation and soil related to climate regions (biomes)
F. Natural climate change
    - evidence, scales, causes
    - the Ice Age		 L. Mid-latitude weather systems
    - fronts, cyclones, weather, weather forecasting
G. Atmospheric moisture, stability,
     precipitation processes
     - measures and measurement of atmospheric
       moisture, dew point
    - atmospheric stability, cloud formation, air masses
    - inversions and pollution
    - precipitation formation, weather modification
    - urban precipitation		 M. Severe weather events
     - thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes
RETURN TO GEO123 SYLLABUS
GEOGRAPHY-GEOLOGY HOMEPAGE