ATOC 1050 Weather and the Atmosphere
Instructor Contact:
Jeffrey Forrest, Ph.D.
Email: forrestj@colorado.edu
About the Course:
Introduces principles of modern meteorology for non-science majors, with emphasis on scientific and human issues associated with severe weather events. Includes description, methods of prediction, and impacts of blizzards, hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, floods, and firestorms.
ATOC 1050 is an introductory course for those seeking to better understand the practical applications of weather — as applied to your personal life, business, and interests in science. Everyone is affected by weather! This course explores basic elements of knowledge and weather reporting applications that can be used well-beyond completion of the class!
Additional Information: GT Pathways: GT-SC2 -Natural Physicl Sci:Lec Crse w/o Req Lab
Arts Sci Core Curr: Natural Science Sequence
MAPS Course: Natural Science
Objectives:
By the end of the course you should be able to:
- Define fundamental terminology and scientific elements of meteorology (weather).
- Explain the importance of each major meteorological system as related to micro-, meso-, synoptic, and global scales that comprise specific weather phenomena.
- Be able to read, apply, and interpret basic elements of weather reporting data and information.
- Examine and apply various basic methods for analyzing and forecasting weather.
- Evaluate, apply, and assess basic principles of weather system analysis as related to fundamental concepts of characterizing and predicting global climate changes and Global Warming.
Required Texts:
Ahrens, C. D. (2018). Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Grading (out of n points):
| Earned % | Letter Grade | Earned % | Letter Grade |
| 94.00 – 100 = | A | 73.00 – 76.99 = | C |
| 90.00 – 93.99 = | A- | 70.00 – 72.99 = | C- |
| 87.00 – 89.99 = | B+ | 67.00 – 69.99 = | D+ |
| 83.00 – 86.99 = | B | 63.00 – 66.99 = | D |
| 80.00 – 82.99 = | B- | 60.00 – 62.99 = | D- |
| 77.00 – 79.99 = | C+ | Below 60 = | F |