PHS 119 - Fundamentals of Weather

4 credit hours - Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory weekly; one term.
This course meets the Biological and Physical Sciences General Education Requirement.

Explore basic principles of atmospheric science and investigate types of interesting weather phenomena. Learn about atmospheric warming mechanisms, development of clouds, global and regional wind patterns and all categories of severe weather developments. Analyze and interpret weather maps, satellite images and atmospheric thermodynamic diagrams. Develop informed conclusions about Earth’s weather and climate changes. Lab fee $30.

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for MAT 137 or MAT 145 or MAT 151 and ENG 101 /ENG 101A .

Note: Typically offered at MC and OL; fall and spring terms; OL, summer term.

Course Outcomes:

Apply fundamental meteorological variables (such as temperature, humidity, wind, pressure) in the solution of practical laboratory weather and climate related problems;
Discuss and explain the value and limitations in using scientific data and the scientific method in answering questions in the field of meteorology;
Clearly identify commonly shown features on surface and upper-air weather maps (such as weather fronts, statin model data, isobars, isotherms, and isoheights);
Describe which atmospheric gases and portions of the electromagnetic spectrum affect Earth’s weather and climate; The gases include the greenhouse gases, nitrogen gas, and oxygen gas, and the portions of the electromagnetic spectrum include visible, infrared, and ultraviolet radiation.
Interpret different meteorological products, in practical laboratory activities, such as: surface weather maps, upper-air weather maps, satellite images, precipitation radar images, and thermodynamic diagrams;
Explain and describe the atmospheric greenhouse effect and how it is different from global warming.