Weather and Climate
Overview
1. Introduction
- Scientific method
- Systems theory and its application to planet Earth
- Sun / Earth geometry
2. Solar Energy and Radiation Laws
- First Law of Thermodynamics
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Wien’s Displacement Law, Stephan-Boltzmann Law and the Inverse Square Law
- Variation in the receipt of solar radiation
3. The Earth's Atmosphere
- Evolution of the modern atmosphere
- Classification of the atmosphere
- Anthropogenic atmospheric pollutants and their effects
4. Energy Concepts, Energy Balance
- Second Law of Thermodynamics
- Energy transfer, transmission and absorption
- Heat energy concepts
- Radiation and energy balances
- Urban heat island
5. Temperature Variation
- Influences on temperature
- Temperature patterns
- Measurement of temperature
6. Pressure and Atmospheric Circulation
- Pressure and its variation, distribution and measurement
- Gas Law
- Forces influencing the direction and speed of upper level and surface winds
- Patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation
- Macro- and meso-scale winds
7. Moisture in the Atmosphere
- Indices of water vapour content
- Methods and forms of condensation
- Mechanisms and forms of precipitation
8. Adiabatic Processes and Stability
- Diabatic and adiabatic processes
- Lapse rates
- Concept and types of stability
- Uplift
9. Air Masses, Fronts, Mid-latitude Cyclones
- Air mass formation, classification and modification
- Front types, formation and characteristics
- Development, evolution and movement of mid-latitude cyclones
- Anticyclones
10 Severe Weather
- Characteristics and life-cycles of air mass and severe thunderstorms
- Tornado formation, characteristics and dimensions
- Hurricane development, characteristics, structure, forecasts and damage
11. Biogeography
- Ecological biogeography and its relationship to climatic patterns
- Abiotic and biotic influences on primary productivity in various ecosystems
- Trophic relationships in ecosystems
- Stages of general ecological succession in ecosystems
- Fire ecology
12. Climate Change
- Evidence for past climate variation
- Atmospheric greenhouse effect and critical analyses of global warming predictions
- Global, regional and local actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Adaptation to a changing climate (example wildfire)
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lecture, labs, field work, analysis and interpretation of surface weather charts and satellite images, multimedia, individual and/or team projects and small group discussions.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria during the first week of classes.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
| Laboratory Assignments | 10% |
| Laboratory Exams | 30% |
| Midterm Exam | 25% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
| Term Project | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: This course received a standing variance from Education Council in June 2016 to allow up to a 20% lab exam during the last 14 calendar days of the semester. This is not a final exam; it is an assessment of student learning of lab work performed in the second half of the semester.
At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to:
- Describe and use the frameworks of science applicable to 1st-year physical geography.
- Think critically and examine climatological, meteorological and biogeographical issues in a scientific context at local, regional and global scales.
- Describe and explain the processes that occur within earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere systems, and identify and describe interactions among these systems.
- Communicate effectively using the language, graphical presentation methods and quantitative methods employed in physical geography.
- Connect theoretical applications to “real-world” observations and measurements.
Texts will be updated periodically. Typical examples are:
- Christopherson, R. W., Birkeland, G., Byrne, M.L. and P. Giles (2020). Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography, Edited Fourth Canadian Edition. Pearson /Prentice Hall.
- Lutgens, F.K., Tarbuck, E.J., and D.G. Tasa (2016). Atmosphere: An Introduction to Meteorology, Thirteenth Edition. Pearson /Prentice Hall.
- Open textbook resources
Requisites
Prerequisites
No prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
No corequisite courses.
Equivalencies
No equivalent courses.
Course Guidelines
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Course Transfers
These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca
| Institution | Transfer details for GEOG 1110 |
|---|---|
| Camosun College (CAMO) | CAMO GEOG 272 (3) |
| Capilano University (CAPU) | CAPU GEOG 114 (4) |
| Coquitlam College (COQU) | COQU GEOG 101 (3) |
| Langara College (LANG) | LANG GEOG 1180 (3) |
| Okanagan College (OC) | OC GEOG 111 (3) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | DOUG GEOG 1110 (4) & DOUG GEOG 1120 (4) = SFU GEOG 111 (3) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | DOUG GEOG 1110 (4) & DOUG GEOG 1120 (4) = SFU EASC 101 (3) & SFU GEOG 111 (3) & SFU GEOG 1XX (1) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | DOUG EAES 1120 (3) & DOUG GEOG 1110 (4) = SFU EASC 101 (3) & SFU GEOG 111 (3) & SFU GEOG 1XX (1) |
| Simon Fraser University (SFU) | SFU GEOG 1XX (3) |
| Thompson Rivers University (TRU) | TRU GEOG 2020 (3) |
| Trinity Western University (TWU) | TWU GEOG 1XX (3) |
| University Canada West (UCW) | UCW GEOG 1XX (3) |
| University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) | UBCO GEOG_O 108 (3) |
| University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) | UBCV GEOS_V 102 (3) |
| University of Northern BC (UNBC) | UNBC ENSC 201 (3) |
| University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) | UFV GEOG 103 (4) |
| University of Victoria (UVIC) | UVIC GEOG 1XX (1.5) |
| University of Victoria (UVIC) | DOUG GEOG 1110 (4) & DOUG GEOG 1120 (4) = UVIC GEOG 103 (1.5) & UVIC GEOG 1XX (1.5) |
| Vancouver Community College (VCC) | DOUG GEOG 1110 (4) or DOUG GEOG 1120 (4) = VCC GEOG 1110 (3) |
| Vancouver Island University (VIU) | VIU GEOG 211 (3) |
Course Offerings
Winter 2025
| CRN | Days | Instructor | Status | More details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CRN
12058
|
Tue Thu | Instructor last name
Smythe
Instructor first name
Susan
|
Course status
Open
|
Considered UT Lab Science for Associate Degrees.
| CRN | Days | Instructor | Status | More details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CRN
12376
|
Thu | Instructor last name
Smythe
Instructor first name
Susan
|
Course status
Full
|
This section uses a hybrid, flipped classroom format. Students study Hybrid with Asynchronous Online course materials online in a self-directed manner and meet in person 3 hours per week. Attendance is required. Regular computer and internet access are essential. Considered UT Lab Science for Associate Degree.
| CRN | Days | Instructor | Status | More details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
CRN
14135
|
Wed Fri | Instructor last name
Smythe
Instructor first name
Susan
|
Course status
Open
|
Considered UT Lab Science for Associate Degrees.