EAS 485 Advanced Synoptic Meteorology Spring 2009
Meets
WSB 21
MF 11:00-12:50
W 11:00-11:50
Prerequisites EAS 385 and EAS 475
Schedule Notes Presidents' Day: February 16 (Classes Do Meet)
See Spring 2009 Academic Calendar
Approximate Exam Dates Semester Exams: Friday, February 20; Monday, April 6

Final Exam: Monday, May 4 10:15 AM - 12:45 PM

Instructor (Please anyone but) Bob Weisman
Office WSB 48
Office Hours and Contact Information
Required Text Weather Forecasting Handbook, Tim Vasquez
Weather Map Handbook, Tim Vasquez
Synoptic-Dynamic Meteorology in Midlatitudes: Observations & Theory of Weather Systems, Volume II, Howard Bluestein
Supporting Texts Meteorology Today, 7th Edition, C. Donald Ahrens
American Meteorological Society Journals (good time to become a member)
Other Supplies Colored, erasable pencils (Baker's Craft -- 27th and Division)
Pen and Ink White-out
Protractor
Good, thin line plotting pen (black or blue).
Course Objectives

0. Know locations of surface stations in Northern Plains and around KSPI. Also, learn selected North American Station IDs. See Synoptic/Forecasting Handbook

1. Be able to present meteorological information in proper oral and written form.

2. Introduce concepts of surface and upper-air analysis to mesoscale forecast situation.
3. Become familiar with refereed meteorological literature.

4. Understand the application of dynamics ideas to real-time weather systems.

Grading
(tentative and approximate)
Map and On-Line Assignments 20%

Student Discussions

10%

Semester Exams (2)

10% each

Personal Forecasting Handbook Assignment

Due Wed. April 1 3 PM

20%
Final Exam: Friday, December 19 10:15 AM - 12:45 PM 20%
Forecast Game (starts Monday, January 12). Sign-up link on class home page. Note: Register for class "EASGENERAL"

10%

Required to make final standings (60% of all class days) at both KSTC and KSPI

Grade Posting Individual grades will be posted in WebCT
Log in to Desire2Learn
Get a HuskyNet Password to use Desire2Learn (same ID as you need for forecast game).
Communications
  • Updates will be posted on the EAS 485 Web Page as necessary.
  • For individual email messages, I will use your HuskyNet ID. Check this account frequently during the semester.
Grading Breakdown from Recent Semesters Final Average Final Grade
>=80
A
70-79
B
60-69
C
50-59
D
<50
F

(Note: This is tentative and not the final curve used in EAS 385 during the Fall 2008 Semester)

 

Note: You must participate on 60% of all class days in both the St. Cloud and Springfield forecasting games.  Failure to make the minimum number of forecasts at the end of the semester will result in at least a deduction of one grade level.  You should also forecast on all class meeting days.
Lateness Policy Regular class assignments: 10% off per calendar day late

Personal Forecasting Handbook Assignment

Due Wed. April 1 3 PM

(no late projects accepted)

 

Last updated: Wed 14-Jan-2009 12:28 PM

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