Will icy roads slow the drive to work tomorrow? Will snow levels result in school closures next week? Will wildfires be severe this summer? Weather has major impact on our lives. Meteorologists strive to provide forecasts that will answer these questions and help us prepare for and mitigate weather’s effects. We will explore the methods meteorologists use to predict short and long-term weather patterns. Weather is very complex and is affected by many factors. The accuracy of forecasts often depends on the level of detail available for use in models, which may be lacking. Topics covered will include atmospheric composition, structure, circulation, and energy transfer; impacts of mountains and oceans on weather patterns; and many other factors influencing weather. A wide range of atmospheric hazards such as hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, drought, flooding, and climate change will be explored. Students who take this course will better understand how the atmosphere works.
NOTE: There is no class on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.