38:250 Introduction to Weather and Climate

Brandon University

Instructor

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Office:
Email:
Phone:
Office Hours:

Lecture times and location

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Land acknowledgement

While this course focuses on the physical landscape it is important to recognize the relationships between
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the landscape and humanity. A big part of this is understanding and appreciating both the history and
future of this relationship. In particular, it is important for us to acknowledge that Brandon University,
and the surrounding area, are the traditional homelands of the Dakota, Anishinabek, Oji-Cree, Cree,
Dene and Metis peoples. This provides valuable context when discussing stewardship and management of
natural resources in this course. For additional information or support please visit the Indigenous Peoples’
Centre website.

Course objectives and learning outcomes

The objective of this course is to provide an introductory understanding of the physical processes under-
lying weather and climate on Earth. This course will cover topics including: radiation, thermodynamics,
atmospheric circulation and other surface processes. Because this course is focused on atmospheric pro-
cesses and properties, assignments and exams will include both calculation-based and conceptual-based
questions.

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On completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Understand the composition and structure of the atmosphere

• Understand and explain the basic principles of weather and climate
• Use these principles to interpret weather & climate information
• Understand and explain the evidence and causes of climate change

Prerequisites

Successful completion of 24 credit hours of coursework.

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Textbook

Ahrens DCD, Jackson PL, Jackson C (2016) Meteorology Today: An Introduction to Weather, Climate,

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and the Environment. 2nd Canadian edition. Nelson Education, Toronto, ON.

Lectures notes and supplemental readings

Course material can be found online using Moodle. The website will include the course syllabus and other
information related to lectures and exercises. Supplemental readings will be posted as needed and lecture
material will be posted within a few days after the lecture.
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Course evaluation

Your final grade in this course will reflect your performance on the following:
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• 10% Mini assignments 2% each (5 total)

• 10% Weather Assignment
• 20% Mid-term I
• 20% Mid-term II
• 40% Final Exam

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Mini assignments

Mini assignments will assigned during the lectures, roughly every two weeks (though there might be two
in one week, or none at all). All assignments will be submitted via Moodle.

• They will be due within seven days following lecture in which it is assigned
• The assignments will be posted on Moodle
• Assignments will typically be comprised of 1 or 2 short answer questions or a calculation-based
question or both

Weather assignment

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Weather plays an important role or provides important context in many aspects of the natural sciences. As
such, weather data and observations are included as part of many experiments and observational studies.
This assignment will give you the opportunity to make weather observations over a four day period and
compare them to data collected by the Brandon University Weather Station. Furthermore, you will also
begin developing skills to visualize (i.e., graphs) weather data over time and prepare a written description
of that data.

Midterm exams PL
There will be two midterm exams for this course. These midterms are not cumulative or open book and
will take place during regular class time. These midterms are typically a mix of multiple choice, true/false,
short answer, calculations, and/or figure/map interpretation.
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• Midterm I - Wednesday February 08, 2023
• Midterm II - Wednesday March 15, 2023

Final exam
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The final exam for this course is cumulative and is not open book/resource and will take place during the
exam period scheduled by the university. The final exam is is typically a mix of multiple choice, true/false,
definitions, calculations, short & long answer questions, figure/map interpretation, and/or case studies.

Academic integrity

The Brandon University Academic Integrity Policy underlines the importance of all members of the
BU community respecting and upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect,
responsibility, and courage (ICAI, 2014) in every academic activity. Students are responsible for ensuring
they understand and adhere to these values.
Activities that depart from these values include, but are not limited to, the following: plagiarism, cheating,
academic interference, falsification, and aiding others to depart from academic integrity.
Students found responsible for having departed from academic integrity will be subject to remedies and/or
sanctions. Depending on the scope and impact of the departure as well as the student’s level of study

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and past academic integrity history, remedies and sanctions range from mandated educational activities
through failure on an assignment/failure in the course to expulsion from the University and revocation of
credentials/degrees granted.
All departures from academic integrity will be recorded in the BU Academic Integrity Repository, and
certain sanctions will result in a notation on the student’s transcript.
The full Academic Integrity Policy, including definitions of academic integrity’s fundamental values, ex-
amples of activities that depart from academic integrity, and processes undertaken in cases of suspected
departures from academic integrity, is available at www.brandonu.ca/senate-office/senate-policies

Accessibility and accommodations

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Brandon University values diversity and inclusion, recognizing disability as an aspect of diversity. Our
shared goal is to create learning environments that are accessible, equitable, and inclusive for all students.
Student Accessibility (SAS) supports students by developing an individualized plan of accommodation,
helping students understand their learning needs, and assisting faculty with provision of accommodations
for students. Should you anticipate or experience disability-related barriers, including permanent, chronic,

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or temporary disabilities/or medical conditions, you are invited to contact the Student Accessibility
Coordinator or complete this Student Information form to request a confidential discussion with the SAS
Coordinator. If you already have established accommodations with SAS, please contact me early in the
term to discuss the accommodations outlined in your letter of accommodation.
Additional information is available on the Student Accessibility Services website.

Mental health supports for students

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These services are free for students
Brandon University has two Counsellor Therapists who support students to resolve personal challenges
that may arise during their academic career. Appointments can be made by calling 204-727-9737.
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Appointments and walk-ins with a University Knowledge Keeper can be made by contacting 204-
727-7443.
In addition, the University subscribes to Therapy Assistance Online (TAO). TAO includes interactive
sessions, mindfulness exercises and practice tools all aimed at helping you achieve your goals. Please visit
brandonu.ca/personal-counselling/tao/.
24-hour Crisis Supports:
Over 18 Years of Age: Mobile Crisis Unit 204-725-4411
Under 18 Years of Age: Child and Adolescent Treatment Centre 204-578-2700
Sexual Assault Crisis Line: 1-888-292-7565

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Policy on late/missed assignments or exams

Students are expected to complete assignments by the due date and write exams on the scheduled date.
Exceptions will be made for students in case of illness or due to serious extenuating circumstance. In the
event of illness or serious extenuating circumstance, the student must inform the instructor as soon as
possible. Exceptions will not be made for poor time management. Unless stated otherwise, assignments
submitted late will be subject to a penalty of 20 % if submitted before graded work is returned, and will
not be accepted after that point unless arrangements are made prior to the submission date.

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Grading

Letter Percent Description Explanation

A+: 90.0-100 % Outstanding Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques
and exceptional skill or great originality in the use of
these concepts/techniques in satisfying the
requirements of an assignment or course
A: 85.0-89.9 % Exceptional Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques
together with a high degree of skill and/or some
elements of originality in the use of these
A-: 80.0-84.9 % Excellent concepts/techniques in satisfying the requirements of
an assignment or course

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B+: 77.0-79.9 % Very good Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques
together with a fairly high degree of skill in the use
of these concepts/techniques in satisfying the
requirements of an assignment or course
B:

B-:

C+:
73.0-76.9 %

70.0-72.9 %

67.0-69.9 %
Good

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Pretty good

Competent
Good level of knowledge of concepts and/or
techniques together with considerable skill in using
them in satisfying the requirements of an assignment
or course

Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts/techniques

together with considerable skill in the use of these
concepts and/or techniques in satisfying the
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requirements of an assignment or course
Fairly
C: 63.0-66.9 % Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or
competent
techniques together with some ability to use them in
Somewhat satisfying the requirements of an assignment or
C-: 60-62.9 %
competent
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course
D: 50.0-59.9 % Marginal Slightly better than minimal of knowledge of
concepts and/or techniques together with some
ability to use them in satisfying the requirements of
an assignment or course
F: 0.0-49.9 % Failing Not meeting basic expectations of knowledge of
concepts and/or techniques and demonstrates a lack
of understanding of an assignment or course

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Course outline

A preliminary timetable for course topics are provided below. Please note that this is a tentative schedule
and it is subject to change.

Date Week Lect Topic Chapters

Wed Jan 04 1 1 Introduction 1
Fri Jan 06 1 2 Study of the atmosphere 1
Mon Jan 09 2 3 Study of the atmosphere 1
Wed Jan 11 2 4 Composition of the atmosphere 2 & 18
Fri Jan 13 2 5 Composition of the atmosphere 2 & 18
Mon Jan 16 3 6 Energy 2

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Wed Jan 18 3 7 Energy 2
Fri Jan 20 3 8 Radiation 2 & 19
Mon Jan 23 4 9 Radiation 2 & 19
Wed Jan 25 4 10 Energy balance 2
Fri Jan 27 4 11 Temperature 3 & 16
Mon Jan 30
Wed Feb 01
Fri Feb 03
Mon Feb 06
Wed Feb 08
Fri Feb 10
Mon Feb 13
Wed Feb 15
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6
6
6
7
7
12
13
14
15

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17
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Temperature
Humidity
Humidity
Condensation
Midterm
Condensation
Stability
Stability
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4
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5

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& 16
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Fri Feb 17 7 19 Precipitation 7
Mon Feb 20 8 Reading Break
Wed Feb 22 8 Reading Break
Fri Feb 24 8 Reading Break
Mon Feb 27 9 20 Precipitation 7
Wed Mar 01 9 21 Air pressure 8
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Fri Mar 03 9 22 Air pressure 8

Mon Mar 06 10 23 Wind: small scale 9
Wed Mar 08 10 24 Wind: small scale 9
Fri Mar 10 10 25 Wind: global scale 10
Mon Mar 13 11 26 Wind: global scale 10
Wed Mar 15 11 27 Air masses and fronts 11
Fri Mar 17 11 28 Air masses and fronts 11
Mon Mar 20 12 29 Mid-latitude cyclones 12
Wed Mar 22 12 Midterm
Fri Mar 24 12 30 Mid-latitude cyclones 12
Mon Mar 27 13 31 Thunderstorms 13
Wed Mar 29 13 32 Thunderstorms 13
Fri Mar 31 13 33 Hurricanes 11
Mon Apr 03 14 34 Hurricanes 11
Wed Apr 05 14 35 Review