Physics 189: Climate & Sustainability

Fall 2018 Syllabus


  Sharon Sessions
  sharon_dot_sessions_at_nmt_dot_edu
  (575) 835-5798
  Workman 353
 
  Office Hours: TBA
  Class Hours: MWF 1-1:50 pm
 
  Learning Coach: Jade Vigil
 

 

Course Description

This course is an introductory course to weather and climate, suitable for any NMT major. When taken with the lab (offered spring semester), it may serve as a degree requirement for lab science course (consult your degree requirements from your major department). It introduces physics concepts that are covered in more detail in PHYS 121 & 122; these include energy, momentum, angular momentum, Newton's second law and thermodynamics. It covers the basic structure and composition of the atmosphere, atmospheric circulations, atmospheric stability, radiative transfer, and the energy balance of the atmosphere.
 
 

Pre-requisites/Co-requisites

Math 104 is a desired co-requisite, but there are no formal pre- or co-requisites.
 
 

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will
  1. Distinguish weather from climate and know the major components of the climate system.
  2. Be able to draw and identify the thermodynamic layers of the atmosphere, and be able to identify the major source of heating for the troposphere and stratosphere.
  3. Identify the major processes that contribute to the atmospheric energy cycle. They will be able to calculate the mean surface temperature of the Earth in the absence of an atmosphere.
  4. Understand the seasonal cycle and identify internal and external forces that influence energy balance.
  5. Be able to determine atmospheric stability and make general predictions based on temperature and moisture in soundings.
  6. Understand why it is so difficult to understand convection, identify sources of uncertainty in weather models, and understand limitations of climate models.
  7. Have some experience in data analysis, including familiarity with Matlab.
  8. Know how to identify "good" and "bad" literature regarding climate science.
  9. Understand what positive and negative feedbacks are, and give examples of each as they relate to the atmosphere.
  10. Have read and analyzed several outside sources of information, including peer-reviewed journal articles and excerpts from the executive summary of the IPCC report.
  11. Understand conceptual aspects of the physics behind weather and climate. Important physical concepts include energy and energy transfer, Newton's laws, momentum and angular momentum, and properties of waves.

Program Learning Outcomes:

This course is part of the Sustainability Learning Community (LC) at NMT. What makes it an LC is the opportunity to perform research and to gain essential research skills. The actual research component will happen in the Spring semester, during the Lab course taught by Dr. Ken Minschwaner. In this semester, we will focus on the essentials of atmospheric physics and how those apply to understanding weather and climate, and we will prepare students with some of the skills needed for the research project during the Spring Lab course, as well as skills needed for research in general. For example, we will analyze data using Matlab (needed as preparation for the spring lab), and will will read and analyze scientific and popular literature related to climate. Learning how to evaluate the legitimacy of information is a valuable tool for any degree. In addition, we will cover some basic physics concepts that will help students prepare for PHYS 121 and 122.
 

Course Requirements:


  Text: Atmosphere, Clouds, and Climate by David Randall (2012) Clickers!
 
  Attendance is strongly encouraged! The text book we are using is not a standard text book (it is better); I will use lecture time to provide background and discuss concepts in more detail than are given in the text. In addition, all tests and quizzes will be taken during class time; except under extreme circumstances, these cannot be made up. Homework will be assigned weekly and will be turned in during class. Late homework will not be accepted (though if you are struggling for any reason to complete your work, please come see me). You are encouraged to work together to complete homework, but your work must be your own. No electronic devices will be allowed during exams, however you will be permitted to bring one sheet of handwritten notes for each exam. Save these notes! You will be allowed to bring 4 sheets of notes to the final exam.
 

Course Schedule:

This is a tentative schedule that we will follow over the course of the semester. Homework assignments are posted on the official course website, and exam dates are tentative and subject to change! The actual dates will be announced in class and posted on the homework schedule.
 
Date Topic & Book Chapters
Week 1 Chapter 1: Basics
Weeks 2-3
Chapter 2: Radiative Energy Flows
Weeks 4-6 Chapter 3:
  Turbulence and Cumulous Clouds
Weeks 7-9 Chapter 4:
  How Energy Travels
Week 10 Chapter 5:
  Feedbacks
Week 11 Chapter 6:
  The Water Planet
Weeks 12-13 Chapter 7:
  Predictability of Weather & Climate
Week 14 Chapter 8:
  Air, Sea, Land
Week 15-16 Chapter 9:
  Frontiers

Grading

Chapter Summaries/notes 10%
Homework 30%
Quizzes 10%
Exam 1 10%
Exam 2 10%
Exam 3 10%
Final Exam 20%

Chapter Summaries

In order to get the most out of this (or any) course, it is important to read the chapter before the material is covered in lecture. To help facilitate this, a one-page chapter summary will be due prior to the beginning of the new material. This may be hand written or typed. If you have illegible hand-writing, you will be required to type your summary. Taking notes is an important step in learning the material. The chapter summary should be in a format that is most beneficial to you. It may consist of a summary with complete sentences or it may be bullet points including important concepts. In this summary, identify concepts or ideas that you don't understand. Ask questions! This will help me to determine what to cover in class or to include as part of a reading guide that will accompany each chapter.

Homework

Problem assignments will be posted weekly and you have 1 week to complete them. Written assignments will be collected at the beginning of class on the due date indicated on the syllabus.
 
  * NOTE * for problem assignments
 
 
  ** Don't wait until the day before the assignment is due to start the problems! I will try to have the assignment posted in the early part of the week (hopefully on Monday). Material will be covered during lectures. It is to your benefit to start the problems as early as possible after the material is covered in class. That leaves you plenty of time to ask questions (in or out of class) about anything you don't understand.
 
  ** Use the drop in help sessions for help on homework. I encourage you to work together, however, what you turn in must be your own work. Also, in order to succeed in this course, you need to understand the material, which means that you must work through all problems on your own.

Quizzes

Quizzes will be given at least once per week. These help not only improve your exam grades by training your brain to retrieve information, but many of the quiz questions will also be potential exam questions.

Exams

Exams will be given during regular class periods. One 8.5x11 inch sheet of paper with your own hand-written notes is allowed. Exams will be announced in class and on the web (above) at least one week in advance.

Grading Scale

92-100% A
88-91% A-
84-87% B+
80-83% B
76-79% B-
72-75% C+
68-71% C
64-67% C-
60-63% D+
50-59% D
0-49% F

 

Counseling and Disability Services

Reasonable Accommodations:

New Mexico Tech is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals who require reasonable accommodations are invited to make their needs known to the Office of Counseling and Disability Services (OCDS) as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment, please call 835-6619.

Counseling Services:

New Mexico Tech offers mental health and substance abuse counseling through the Office of Counseling and Disability Services. The confidential services are provided free of charge by licensed professionals. To schedule an appointment, please call 835-6619.

Academic Honesty:

New Mexico Tech’s Academic Honesty Policy for undergraduate students is found starting on page 64 of the NMT Undergraduate Catalog, http://www.nmt.edu/images/stories/registrar/2015-2016_UNDERGRADUATE_Catalog_FINAL.pdf
 
  You are responsible for knowing, understanding, and following this policy.

Respect Statement:

New Mexico Tech supports freedom of expression within the parameters of a respectful learning environment. As stated in the New Mexico Tech Guide to Conduct and Citizenship: “New Mexico Tech’s primary purpose is education, which includes teaching, research, discussion, learning, and service. An atmosphere of free and open inquiry is essential to the pursuit of education. Tech seeks to protect academic freedom and build on individual responsibility to create and maintain an academic atmosphere that is a purposeful, just, open, disciplined, and caring community.”

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