2024-2025 Yavapai College Catalog 
    
    Oct 31, 2024  
2024-2025 Yavapai College Catalog

GEO 212 - Introduction to Meteorology


Description: Physical and chemical conditions that regulate global weather phenomena. Includes structure of the atmosphere, temperature, humidity, air pressure and winds, the development of weather systems, tornadoes and hurricanes, and the parameters that affect local and global climate. Laboratory includes image interpretation, field observation and prediction.

General Education Competency: Scientific Literacy

Credits: 4
Lecture: 3
Lab: 3

Course Content:
  1. Origin of the atmosphere, earth/sun relations and energy systems including the greenhouse effect
  2. Atmospheric pressure, air pollution and local and regional wind patterns
  3. Hydrologic cycle including humidity and stability of air masses and air-sea interactions
  4. Clouds, precipitation, frontal systems and severe weather
  5. Tropical and midlatitude systems including wave cyclones, tropical cyclones and tornadoes
  6. Atmospheric circulation patterns & oscillations including monsoonal winds, El Nino & global circulation models
  7. Global climate patterns, climate change and global warming
  8. Meteorological methods and tools for weather monitoring, analysis and forecasting including remote sensing, observations and weather mapping

Learning Outcomes:
  1. Describe the origin and structure of the earth and its atmosphere. (1, 7) 
  2. Use scientific reasoning to explain the relationship between the earth and sun and how solar and terrestrial radiation affects temperature, air pressure and wind patterns. (1, 2, 7, 8)
  3. Explain the role of heat, moisture and winds in generating clouds, precipitation and severe weather. (2-6, 8)
  4. Model major atmospheric circulation systems and oscillations. (1-8)
  5. Describe climatic regions and assess climate change predictions. (1-8) 
  6. Interpret meteorological data to predict weather conditions. (1-8)