GEOG 140 — Meteorology: Weather and Climate
This physical science course explains the principles that drive daily weather and long-term climate variation. Explanations will focus upon the composition and structure of the atmosphere, the input of solar radiation, the corresponding atmospheric energy budget, the resultant changes in the state of the atmosphere (in terms of temperature, pressure, humidity, winds, air masses, fronts, clouds, and fog), and the average situation as expressed by the climate distribution and its change-over-time. Highlights include explanation of jet streams and winter cyclonic storms, as well as late-summer hurricanes and monsoonal thunderstorms, autumnal Santa Ana-driven fires, and springtime marine layer stability vs Tornado Alley severe weather instability. Special attention is given to real-time weather events and forecasting, especially by way of current weather maps and satellite imagery vs. climatological data. (C-ID GEOG 120) (CSU/UC) (AA/AS-4, CSU-D, IGETC-4, Cal-GETC-4)