Carroll Community College

GEOSC-201, Meteorology

Credits: 4

General Education Course

Course Description

Meteorology is the study of weather and climate. Primary emphasis will be placed on the physical principles underlying the movements and processes of the atmosphere. Some topics to be considered are: radiation and atmospheric heating, global circulation, pressure fronts and air masses, cloud physics, and local weather. The course includes a laboratory with activities that facilitate an understanding of the current weather and develop basic forecasting skills. Prerequisite: exemption/completion of MAT-097 and READ-101 with C grades or better. Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory each week. Four credits. Four billable hours. Offered Spring Term only; otherwise offered as a web-based course.  GENERAL EDUCATION

Course Objectives and Grading Information

Course Objectives:

1. Describe the different layers of the atmosphere and the changes in air temperature that occur in each.

2. Explain how solar and terrestrial radiation are involved in the Heating of the atmosphere.

3. Distinguish the difference between heat and temperature.

4. Use current weather data to produce forecast maps for selected Cities and regions.

5. Define air pressure, and draw the wind circulation patterns associated with High and Low pressure areas.

6. Use the internet to obtain various weather data, and have an understanding of the products available.

7. Compute specific, relative, and maximum humidity for parcels of air at different altitudes.

8. Explain the different processes that produce  precipitation.

9. Describe the life cycle of a thunderstorm cell.

10. Explain the processes that create, sustain, and weaken hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms.