PHYSICS 137
INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  ATMOSPHERE  AND  WEATHER

COURSE OUTLINE

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY                  WINTER 2009                  INSTRUCTOR: CLARK G. CHRISTENSEN

     I.  GENERAL INFORMATION                                                                                          
    II.  GENERAL OBJECTIVES
  III.  CONFIDENTIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (CID#)
   IV.  HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
    V.  OBSERVATION PROJECT/CLASSROOM FORECAST
   VI.  EXAMINATIONS
  VII. QUIZZES
VIII.  GRADES
   IX.  BYU STANDARDS AND POLICIES
    X.  MISCELLANEOUS CLASS POLICIES
   XI.  SEMESTER SCHEDULE
 APPENDIX A.   ELEVATIONS OF PROMINENT LOCAL LANDMARKS

   I.  GENERAL INFORMATION         

Course Number, Section and Title:  Physics 137, Section 1, Introduction to the Atmosphere and Weather

Class Time and Place:  MWF, 11:00 am, C247 ESC

Instructor:  Dr. Clark G. Christensen

      Office:  N482 ESC

      Office Hours:  MWF 12:00 - 1:00 pm, other hours by appointment.  Please feel free to call or come by whenever you need.

      Telephone:  378-2207 (office), 375-5951 (home)

      email:  cgchristensen@byu.edu

Grader:  Megan Cox    email:  stargirl_199@yahoo.com

      Office Hours: 

Credit:  3 hours (fulfills University Core; Arts, Letters and Sciences; two-course combination Physical Science requirement, or the old
      GE Natural Science Elective requirement)

Prerequisites:  None.

Texts:  Meteorology Today (8th ed.) by C. Donald Ahrens (Pacific Grove, CA:  Brooks/Cole–Thomson Learning) is required.

Audience:  Physics 137 is designed for both physical science majors and non-majors.  It is mostly non-quantitative in nature; no
    mathematical skills beyond those required for admission to BYU are needed.  Some application of those rudimentary arithmetic,
    algebraic and graph-reading skills occur in lectures, homework assignments and tests.

  II.  GENERAL OBJECTIVES         

The purpose of this course is to assist each student in developing a knowledge and understanding of meteorological phenomena, concepts and facts in order that:

    1.  The student might enjoy enhanced aesthetic experiences with one of nature's most fascinating and beautiful endowments,
         the continually changing atmosphere, through increased familiarity and comprehension.

    2.  The student might more fully comprehend and assess the reliability of meteorological ideas and information to which he or
         she is exposed in present and future encounters which might occur, for example, in other courses, through the media, or in
         the student's own imagination, thereby again enabling the student to enjoy a richer life of greater awareness.

    3.  The student might be able to formulate his or her own short term weather forecasts, based upon personal perceptions and
         knowledge, without any reference to professionally produced prognostications, also that the student might be able to
         "fine tune" professionally prepared forecasts to his or her specific location.

III.  CONFIDENTIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (CID#)         

                  To enable us to identify you on postings of scores, class rankings and grades, in conformity with federal privacy laws, we ask that
         you assign yourself a confidential four-digit identification number (CID#).  (If you fail to do so, your scores will still be known to your
         instructor but will not appear on posted lists.)  If more than one student selects the same CID#, that number will be assigned to the first
         person making the selection.  Later selectors will be invited to choose different numbers.  Please fill in the yellow boxes below, then click
         the "Submit" button.  If you discover an error in any box after you have exited it, please hit the "Reset" button and start over.

      Name:        4-digit CID#:        Email:       

IV.  HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS         

        (The detailed homework schedule, including the specific problems assigned, is given in Part XI.)

        Homework assignments are due prior to the beginning of the lectures on the scheduled dates. Homework submitted after the lecture begins will be considered late. Late homework will be penalized twenty percent of the earned score. No homework which is later than one week will be accepted unless there are extenuating circumstances. Such homework will be returned ungraded unless permission to submit it late is obtained from the instructor.

        It is recognized that occasional assignments will be missed for a variety of reasons including illnesses, family emergencies, term papers in others courses, lapses of memory, etc. For this reason your total homework score will be based on your best sixteen scores from the nineteen assignments. Thus you may miss or "bomb" three assignments without penalty.

        Each homework assignment consists of six equally weighted questions. Each question will be graded on the following point scale (except questions with multiple parts which may be graded with greater resolution):

    3 points - correct answer;

    2 points - nearly correct answer, small inaccuracies or inadequacies;

    1 point - incorrect answer, but with some redeeming elements of truth or reasoning; a correct "yes"/"no" response, or its
                  equivalent, without explanation;

    0 points - totally incorrect answer, no answer, or wrong question answered.

        The maximum possible cumulative raw homework score will therefore be:

(19-3)[assignments] × 6[questions/assignment] × 3[points/question] = 288 points.

        The homework key for each assignment will be posted on the internet shortly after its submission deadline.

  V.  OBSERVATION PROJECT/CLASSROOM FORECAST         

        During the term one observational project should be performed and a project report submitted OR you may prefer to do a TV-style weather forecast for the class.  If you choose the observational project, it may be of your own design or it may be taken from a list of projects which has been prepared by your instructor.  Individual and group projects are allowed with the expectation that the total amount of work performed in a group project be commensurate with the number of persons in the group.  Group projects require prior approval from your instructor.

        It is expected that project reports will conform to the standards of good composition.  Write your report so that it could be understood by a person who does not know what you have done.  All data tables and charts require explanation.  Click here for the scoring criteria used on observing projects.

       Most of the suggested projects require a series of observations extending over much of the semester. To complete such a project satisfactorily you must begin early in the semester. Procrastinators greatly limit their options.

        Project reports must be submitted on or before 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 8, in order to earn full credit. Thereafter late projects will be penalized 20% of earned credit through 2:00 pm on the final day of class (Monday, April 13). Observational project reports will not be accepted after the final class period. Ten per cent of your grade will be based on your observational project results and report.

        If you choose to do the forecast, you must make that decision within the first week of the semester.  Then, depending upon how many of you elect to do a forecast, I will select dates at random during the latter part of the semester and by random means assign you to do a forecast for a particular date.  Since weather conditions change rapidly and unexpectedly, you will not be able to prepare very long in advance except in a general way.  The details will have to be prepared at the last minute as they are for TV weather personnel.  You will be graded according to how well you understand the concepts in your presentation (expect some questions from both your instructor and other class members).  Your forecast should include temperatures, wind conditions, sky conditions, precipitation, frontal passages, etc. for the next five days.  You should be able to explain why you issue the forecast you do.  Please illustrate your forecast with graphics available on the internet such as current satellite and radar images and whatever charts and maps you choose to use.  You will not be graded on the accuracy of your forecast unless it is clearly inconsistent with the current conditions.  I will circulate in class, one week after the semester begins, a signup sheet on which you may commit to do a forecast.  I will often begin class with a quick forecast, so you may observe from my forecasts some of the internet resources available for your use.  Click here for my expectations for the forecasts, upon which the scoring will be based.

 VI.  EXAMINATIONS         

     You will be given four unit examinations, each having a 100-point maximum possible score, and a comprehensive final examination with a 200-point possible score.  These examinations will be largely or entirely of multiple choice format to facilitate machine grading.  All examinations except the final will be in the Testing Center.  No make-up exams will be given.  However the lowest of your four unit examination scores will be disregarded when your grade is determined.

        The examination schedule is included in Part XI.

VII.  QUIZZES         

      Besides scheduled examinations you will be given several unscheduled* quizzes.  These serve the purpose of providing incentive to (1) be aware of current weather conditions, (2) attend class regularly and (3) on time, and (4) stay current on reading assignments. Quizzes will usually (but not always) be given at the beginning of a class period, will typically consist of one to six questions, and will require about five minutes of time.  The quiz questions will be of two types.  First will be simple questions on the current day's reading assignment.  Second, there will be questions on current weather conditions, e.g., cloud types, wind direction and velocity, precipitation within the last 24 hours, approximate temperature, etc.  These questions will not be difficult, but they will require general awareness of current weather conditions.  Their purpose is to train you to observe the weather.  Look at the sky, notice your environment as you walk to class!

        Your quiz scores will be added to your cumulative homework score before your grade is determined.  (Thus it will be possible to earn more than 100 per cent of the "maximum" possible homework score and more than 100 per cent total score for the term.)

        It is not possible to make up for missed quizzes.  If you are late or absent on the date of a quiz you get a zero for that quiz (except that students adding the class late will be given the opportunity of taking quiz #1)!  However, since quizzes count as extra credit and since they account for relatively few points, missing a single quiz will very likely have no impact on one's grade.  Missing several quizzes will probably have a negative impact on one's grade, although the extra credit nature of the quizzes means that one could conceivably receive a "perfect" 100% of the points for the course and earn an A grade without ever taking a quiz.

       *There will be one scheduled quiz during the semester.  On the date of the second class meeting (Wednesday, January 7) there will be a
         relatively long quiz focused upon the syllabus and the course webpage.

VIII.  GRADES         

        Your grade will be based on your percentage score which will be determined according the scheme summarized in the following table and formula:

Item

 Maximum  Raw Score

Weight [%]
Unit Examinations (best 3 of 4) 300 Points 40
Homework (best 16 of 19) 288 Points 20
Observational Project 50 Points 10
Final Examination 200 Points 30
Quizzes & Extra Credit

?

 Treated as homework extra credit

Thus the formula which will be used to determine your percentage score is

Pct = 40 × (Sum of 3 Highest Unit Exam Scores)/300 + 
20 × (Sum of 16 Highest Homework Scores and all Quiz Scores)/288 +
10 × (Observational Project Score)/50 +
30 × (Final Exam Score)/200.

        Your grade, based on your percentage score, will be calculated in two ways-on the absolute scale given below and on a class curve. You will be given whichever of the two grades is higher as your course grade. (In most cases in the past the two methods have yielded the same grade.) Thus a grade figured from the scale below can be regarded as a guaranteed minimum grade.

If your percentage score (rounded to three significant figures) is greater than or equal to Then your grade will be at least a/an
90.0 A
86.0  A-
82.0   B+
78.0 B
74.0  B-
70.0   C+
66.0 C
62.0  C-
58.0   D+
54.0 D
50.0  D-
  0.0 E

To check on your scores and class rank click on class standings.

IX.  BYU STANDARDS AND POLICIES         

        Standards:  Each of you has signed a pledge to maintain BYU standards including those of honesty, respectful treatment of others, and modesty and dignity in dress and grooming.  Your instructor is also fully committed to those standards and expects, as a matter of honor, that the conduct of all class members will be in conformity with those standards.  Academic honesty means, most fundamentally, that any work you present as your own must in fact be your own work and not that of another.  Please call the Honor Code Office at 422-2847 if you have questions about these standards.

        Sexual Harassment:  BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well.  If you encounter sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please talk to your instructor, contact the Equal Employment Office (D-240C ASB) at 422-5895, or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

        Student with Disabilities:  BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities.   If you have any disability that may adversely affect your success in this course, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (1520 WSC) at 422-2767.  Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with you and your instructor by that office.

  X.  MISCELLANEOUS CLASS POLICIES         

        Collaboration:  You are allowed, even encouraged, to study together in test preparation and in doing homework (informally organized study groups are often very helpful for such a purpose).  Detailed discussion of homework questions is okay.  You may also consult with your instructor or your grader if you need help in answering homework questions.  However, after you have discussed homework to whatever extent you desire, it is expected that you will compose your own answers to homework questions without further reference to the answers of others.  If two or more submitted homework responses are identical, or nearly enough so that it is apparent they have a common author, then both (or all) collaborators will receive a score of zero and will be considered in violation of the BYU Honor Code.

        Old Examinations:  Even though examinations will not be identical with those of previous terms, some of the questions may be taken from a common pool.  Studying of examinations from a previous term is therefore forbidden.  For the same reason, even though your unit examinations will be returned to you to aid you in your preparation for the final examination, you should not share your examinations with students who may take this course in the future.

        Appeals:  Homework appeals should initially be directed to your grader, Megan Cox.  You may contact her in person, by email (stargirl_199@yahoo.com), or resubmit your homework with an attached written explanation of why you feel you were unfairly graded.  If you then believe the grader's response to be unfair, contact your instructor.  Appeals involving quizzes, examinations or the observing project should be made directly to your instructor.  Any appeals should be made within one week of when your appealed work is returned to you.

        Extra Credit:  Your instructor's philosophy on extra credit is that such opportunities should be made available to any student who wants to do extra work to enhance his or her course grade.  However students who do well otherwise should not be penalized in any way for not doing extra-credit work.  No particular extra-credit opportunity should be weighted heavily in the determination of a grade.
        In order that students doing no extra-credit work are not penalized, the course percentage score earned by any student doing otherwise flawless work, but no extra-credit work, is 100%.  Students submitting extra-credit work could conceivably score above 100% for the semester, but, of course, would receive the same grade as any students achieving a cumulative score at or above 90%.
        Those opportunities provided for extra credit include (1) in-class quizzes, (2) submitting written "fog" questions (see below), (3) discovering and reporting errors in your instructor's on-line postings, (4) submitting an end-of-semester teacher evaluation and (5) answering "bonus" questions on some exams.  Sometimes extra credit is extended for attending certain forums or physics department colloquiums.

        Returned Work:  Graded homework, unit exams and the observing project will be returned to you as quickly as it is practical to do so. Your final exam will not be returned to you.

        Posted Scores:  To enable you to check on our records and to ascertain your class standing, your scores and class rank will be posted on the internet, with frequent updates, beginning after the first unit exam is scored.  You will be identified on this posting by your CID#, not your name.  Please check this posting often to help us maintain the accuracy of our records.  (If you desire that your scores not be posted, please inform your instructor.)
 
        "Fog":  You are invited to participate freely in the class lectures by asking whatever questions you may have and by sharing your experiences or knowledge with class members.  To further this participation, I also invite you to submit written questions at the close of each class period to seek clarification ("fog removal") of any concepts or items you do not fully understand.  My response to "fog" questions will be either to discuss them during the next class period, or to post answers on-line.  You may access posted responses by clicking on "fog" in the lower right corner of the upper right-hand box of the course title page.  Any day that you submit a "fog" question or questions, you will receive one extra-credit point (of the same value as one point on a quiz).

XI.  SEMESTER SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2009                              

Week Date
(2009)		 Chapter1 Pages Topic

Homework Due2

 Exams3
1 M Jan  5 1 1-25 The Earth and Its Atmosphere    
W Jan  7
F Jan  9
2 M Jan 12 2 26-53 Energy:  Warming the Earth and  the Atmosphere  1:  QR5,7,9,10; QT1,2
W Jan 14  
F Jan 16
3 M Jan 19 M A R T I N   L U T H E R   K I N G,   J R.   D A Y
W Jan 21 3 54-83 Seasonal and Daily Temperatures  2:  QR18; QT1,10,11; PE1,3
F Jan 23  
4 M Jan 26
W Jan 28 19 516-537 Light, Color and Atmospheric Optics; Review for Test #1  3:  QR3,11,18:  QT2,9; PE6
F Jan 30  
S Jan 31 1-3, 19 1-83, 516-537 UNIT EXAM #1:  ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS   1
5

 M Feb  2

 4 84-103 Atmospheric Moisture 19:  QT2,4,7,9,11,13
Tu Feb  3 1-3, 19 1-83, 516-537 UNIT EXAM #1:  ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS  
W Feb  4 5 104-137 Condensation:  Dew, Fog, and Clouds  4:  QT3,6,8; PE1,2,4  
F Feb  6    
6 M Feb  9 6 138-161 Stability and Cloud Development  5:  QR15; QT2,4,10,15; PE1  
W Feb 11    
F Feb 13 6-7 138-189 Stability and Cloud Development; Precipitation  
7 M Feb 16 P R E S I D E N T S'   D A Y  
Tu Feb 174 7 162-189 Precipitation; Review of Atmospheric Moisture  6:  QT2,4,5; PE2,3,5  
W Feb 18    

    F Feb 20

 8 190-219 Air Pressure and Wind  7:  QT3,8,12; PE1,3,4 2
S Feb 21 4-7 84-189 UNIT EXAM #2:  ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE  
8  M  Feb 23   8 190-219 Air Pressure and Wind  
W Feb 25 9 220-253

Wind:  Small Scale and Local Systems

  8:  QT2,3,12; PE2,3,5  
F Feb 27  
9 M Mar  2  10 254-283

 Forecast:  Zentano
                                              Wind:  Global Systems
 

  9:  QT4,6,9,11; PE3,4
W Mar  4  
F Mar  6 10,11 254-307

 Forecast:  Sheen   Wind:  Global Systems; Air Masses and Fronts
10 M Mar  9 11 284-307

 Forecast:  Graham                                Air Masses and Fronts

 10:  QT2,4,8,10; PE1,2
W Mar 11 11,12 284-333 Air Masses and Fronts; Middle-Latitude Cyclones  
F Mar 13 12 308-333

 
                                       Middle-Latitude Cyclones; Review
 Forecast:  Chrystler

11:  QT2,5,9,10; PE1,2
11 M Mar 16  
T Mar 17 8-12 190-333 UNIT EXAM #3:  ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS   3

 W Mar 18

 13 334-365 Weather Forecasting 12:  QR3,14; QT3,7,9; PE1
Θ Mar 19 8-12 190-333 UNIT EXAM #3:  ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS  
F Mar 20 13 334-365

Weather Forecasting

    
12 M Mar 23 14 366-403

 Forecast:  Griffin
 Forecast:  Richards                Thunderstorms & Tornados
 

 13:  QT1,2,3,4; PE2,3
W Mar 25  
F Mar 27
13 M Mar 30 15 404-429

 Forecast:  De Arton
                                                             Hurricanes

14:  QT2,3,6,9; PE1,3
W Apr  1  
F Apr 3 16 430-457

  Climate Change

 15:  QT1,3,4,5; PE1,2
14 M Apr  6  
W Apr  85 17 458-487

 Forecast:  Hamilton                           Global Climates

 16:  QT2,4,5,6,8; PE1
F Apr 10 18 488-515 Air Pollution 17:  QT1,2,3,4; PE1,2
S Apr 11 13-17 334-487 UNIT EXAM #4:  SPECIAL TOPICS   4
15

 M Apr 13

 18 488-515

 Forecast:  Maughan                                       Air Pollution

 18: QT1,2,3,5; PE3,4
T Apr 14 13-17 334-487 UNIT EXAM #4:  SPECIAL TOPICS  
W Apr 15 - Optional Semester Review at the normal class time and place -
E X A M I N A T I O N   P R E P A R A T I O N   D A Y S
Θ Apr 16
16 M Apr 206 1-19 1-515 FINAL EXAMINATION (11 am-2 pm, C 247 ESC [not in the Testing Center])   F

1Each chapter should be read prior to the first scheduled lecture on that chapter (forgiveness is extended to those who failed to read Chapter 1 before 
  class on January 5).

2Both homework assignments and the dates on which they are due are posted with aqua blue backgrounds in the above table.  Homework is due at 11 am
  on the dates indicated.  Homework submitted after class begins will be considered late.   The bold numeral is both the chapter number and the
  assignment number.  "QR" refers to Questions for Review; "QT", Questions for Thought; "PE", Problems and Exercises.  [If you are reading the table
  correctly, you will infer that Homework Assignment  #1, based on the material covered in Chapter 1, and consisting of Questions for Review #5, 7, 9
  and 10 and Questions for Thought #1 and 2 (all from pages 24 and 25), is due at 11 am  (the beginning of class) on Monday, January 12.

3Examinations and the dates on which they may be taken are posted in bold red ink and with white backgrounds.  The unit exams may be taken in the
 Testing Center at any operating time on the scheduled dates.  Note that each exam is available on three days.  The first two of those days will be
 considered on time.  The third day will be considered a late day.  The Testing Center will assess a fee for tests taken on late days.  (Some of the available
 days are Saturdays.  The Testing Center hours are quite limited on Saturdays.  Be sure to check their schedule, if you plan to take a Saturday exam.)

4By university policy, Monday classes will be held on Tuesday, February 17.

5The observation project report is due at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 8.

6The final exam will be in the regular classroom at the officially scheduled time, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm on Monday, April 20.

APPENDIX A.   Elevations of Prominent Local Landmarks                             

        Three elevations which are often of meteorological importance are those of the base of a cloud layer, the top of a cloud layer, and the snowline (during a storm). By reference to local topographical features, it is often possible to estimate these elevations without use of instruments. To enable you to do this, the following table is provided which gives the elevations (above sea level) of a number of prominent landmarks visible from the BYU campus.  (Click on the landmark name or description for an image that will help you identify it.)

Landmark Elevation [feet above sea level] Approximate Direction from Campus
Utah Lake, (2nd View) 4489.0455*** SW to NW
ESC (ground level) 4655 -
NuSkin building (top of flag pole) 4678 SSW
Provo Power Stacks, (2nd View) 4799 (N), 4789 (S) WSW
Provo Temple (ground level) 4885 NE
Powerline at "Y" trailhead (ground level) 5160* ESE
First switchback on "Y" trail 5400* ESE
Tan cliffs below and to the north of the "Y" 6000** E

"Y" (midpoint)

 6300** E
Round Peak just north of Little Rock Canyon 6569 NE

Cliff base directly above "Y"

 6800** E
West Mountain (at south end of Utah Lake) 6393 (north peak), 6901 (south peak) SW
Cliff base near fir trees above and just north of "Y" 7200** E
Lake Mountain (west side of Utah Lake) 7547 WNW
Little Baldy (right of Big Baldy) 7696 N
Highest point on Maple Flat Ridge (in front of Maple Mountain) 7764 ESE
Squaw Peak, (2nd View), Squaw Peak 7876 NE
Top of Y Mountain "cliff line" 8100** E

Y Mountain (highest point visible from campus)

 8524 E
Y Mountain summit (not visible from campus) 8568 E

Big Baldy summit (in front of the "toe" of Timpanogos)

 8756 N

Maple Mountain summit (south of Y Mountain)

 9089 ESE
Buckley Mountain summit (south of Maple Mountain) 9502 ESE
Sierra Bonita aka Spanish Fork Peak aka Mt. Flonette, (2nd View) 10192 SE
Lewiston Peak (Oquirrh Range) 10411 NW
Peak at southeast end of Timpanogos ridge line, (2nd View) 10645 N

Loafer Mountain summit, (2nd View)  (3rd View)

 10687 S
Cascade Mountain summit, (2nd View) 10908 NE
"Glacier Saddle" (saddle near summit on Timpanogos ridge line) 11300* N
Mt. Timpanogos "toe" 11441 N

Timpanogos "Second Summit" (looks highest from campus), (2nd View)

 11722 N
Mt. Timpanogos summit, (2nd View) 11750 N
Mt. Nebo summit    Mt. Nebo seen from top of "Y" 11928 S

    *Approximate value, accurate to within 25 feet|
  **Approximate value, accurate to within 100 feet|
***This is what is known as "compromise level." This level was changed to the current value of 4489.0455' in 1986. The historical
      records have the level of the lake varying between a low of near 4480' to a high of 4495'. As of August 8, 2006, the level was 0.77'
      below compromise level or 4488.28'.|
      All other elevations are accurate to within about one foot.