Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Course Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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ESCI 1050 - Introduction to Meteorology

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab None
Course Description: This course introduces the basic scientific principles involved in meteorology. Students explore the basic properties of the atmosphere, weather instruments, weather phenomena, terminology, and forecasting.
MnTC Goals
3 Natural Science, 10 People/Environment

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Concurrently enrolled in ESCI 1055 .

Major Content
  1. Air masses and their classification
  2. Air pressure and its measurement
  3. Atmospheric stability
  4. Earth-sun relationships
  5. Forms of condensation and precipitation
  6. Global air circulation
  7. Heat transfer
  8. Heat, temperature and temperature scales
  9. Humidity and its measurement
  10. Hydrologic cycle
  11. Local winds
  12. Mid latitude cyclones
  13. Severe weather - thunderstorms, hurricanes
  14. Solar and terrestrial radiation
  15. The atmosphere - composition, origin, and structure
  16. Weather analysis
  17. Weather patterns and frontal activity
  18. Winds

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

  1. apply the terms used in meteorology and climatology
  2. identify the processes that control and change the weather
  3. employ the analytical methods used in meteorology
  4. interpret weather data in relation to weather reports as seen on television and the techniques used in the art of forecasting.

Competency 1 (1-6)
03. 01. Demonstrate understanding of scientific theories. 03. 02. Formulate and test hypotheses by performing laboratory, simulation, or field experiments in at least two of the natural science disciplines. One of these experimental components should develop, in greater depth, students’ laboratory experience in the collection of data, its statistical and graphical analysis, and an appreciation of its sources of error and uncertainty. 03. 04. Evaluate societal issues from a natural science perspective, ask questions about the evidence presented, and make informed judgments about science-related topics and policies.
Competency 2 (7-10)
10. 03. Describe the basic institutional arrangements (social, legal, political, economic, religious) that are evolving to deal with environmental and natural resource challenges. 10. 04. Evaluate critically environmental and natural resource issues in light of understandings about interrelationships, ecosystems, and institutions. 10. 05. Propose and assess alternative solutions to environmental problems. 10. 06. Articulate and defend the actions they would take on various environmental issues.


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