GRG301K / WEATHER AND CLIMATE CLASS NOTES OUTLINE
Chapter #1 (The Earth's Atmosphere) How Weather Affects Our Lives Weather, Climate, Meteorology and the Atmosphere History of Meteorology Weather Elements Weather Maps Basic Causes of Weather Introduction to the Atmosphere Atmospheric Composition Atmospheric Origins Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere Observation of the Atmosphere
Chapter #2 (Warming the Earth and the Atmosphere) The Earth/Sun Relationship Earth's Seasons Heat Transfer/Heat Budget/Energy Balancing Act Albedo Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect Absorption/Emission Black Body Objects Latent Heat Heat and Temperature
Chapter #3 (Air Temperature) Latitudinal Heat Balance Surface Air Temperature Temperature Measurement Temperature Scales/Conversions Temperature Controls Temperature Temperatures and Uses Biometeorology
Chapter #4 (Humidity, Condensation and Clouds) Water Vapor in the Air Hydrologic Cycle Moisture and Changes of State Ways to Express Moisture Content of the Air Humidity Measurement Atmospheric Stability - Stable vs. Unstable Air Lapse Rates Thermodynamic Diagrams Dew/Frost Formation Cloud/Fog Formation Cloud Types and Classification
Chapter #5 (Cloud Development and Precipitation) Atmospheric Stability (See Above) Cloud Formation (See Above) Precipitation Formation and Types Precipitation Measurement Weather Modification
Chapter #6 (Air Pressure and Winds) Atmospheric Pressure Pressure/Temperature Relationships Measuring Air Pressure Standard Atmospheric Pressure High and Low Pressure Surface and Upper Atmospheric Pressure Charts Introduction to Winds Measuring Wind Chapter #7 (Atmospheric Circulations) Scales of Atmospheric Circulation Global Scale Winds General Global Scale Circulation and Precipitation Westerly Winds and the Jet Stream Global Scale Wind and the Oceans Southern Oscillation Eddies Local Scale Winds
Chapter #8 (Air Masses, Fronts and Mid-Latitude Cyclones) What is an Airmass? Airmass Types and Source Regions Airmasses Affecting North America Weather Patterns Mid-Latitude Cyclones Mid-Latitude Cyclones and Jet Streams Cyclogensis Fronts Dry Lines
Chapter #9 (Weather Forecasting) Acquisition of Weather Information "Pieces" of the Weather Forecast Puzzle Numerical Weather Prediction Methods of Weather Forecasting How Accurate are Weather Forecasts and Why Forecasts Still Go Wrong
Chapter #10 (Thunderstorms and Tornadoes) Thunderstorm Basics Thunderstorm Distribution Thunderstorm Development and Life Cycle Air Mass Thunderstorms Severe Thunderstorms Thunderstorm Hazard / Lightning Thunderstorm Hazard / Flash Flooding Thunderstorm Hazard / Straight Line Wind Thunderstorm Hazard / Hail Thunderstorm Hazard / Tornado The Waterspout Radar Observation of the Tornado
Chapter #11 (Hurricanes) Tropical Meteorology Tropical Cyclone Development and Dissipation Naming Hurricanes
Chapter #12 (Global Climate) Defining Climate Climate Controls Classifying Climate Types - A/B/C/D/E/H
Chapter #13 (The Earth’s Changing Climate) Past Climates Causes of Climate Change Carbon Dioxide, the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
Updated 06/30/2014 tmk GRG301K.ClassOutline.wpd