Course Description Weather, Climate and Landscapes is an introduction to physical geography, the study of the earth’s atmosphere, weather and climate, water resources, landforms and ecosystems. In this course, we will explore the composition and function of the atmosphere, the flow of energy and mass between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and lithosphere, and the resulting climate patterns. We will explore how evidence of past climate can tell us about our current and future world. We will also examine how weather and climate influence those processes which shape the surface of the earth and influence ecosystems. Themes of global climate change and environmental change are explored in each unit. Finally, we will seek to understand how these processes affect and are affected by human activity. This course fulfills a three credit science distribution requirement (no lab) in the College of Arts and Sciences. There are no prerequisites for this course. It also satisfies a major requirements for Geography and for the Global Climate and Environmental Change concentration in Environmental Sciences and is a pre-requisite for GEOG 140, 143, 148, 153, 244 and 246.

This course is offered as a fully on-line class.

On-line exercises (25%) On-line exercises will be assigned regularly (roughly once per week, ~10 assignments) during the semester. These exercises are opportunities to review class material and practice concepts that will be on homework and exams. Homework exercises (25%) Regular homework exercises are designed to keep you current with lecture material and the text. Ten homework exercises will be posted on Blackboard for you to download, complete and turn in. Each homework assignment will help you to build your skills in making basic calculations, interpreting graphs and maps and synthesizing lecture and reading concepts. Exams (50%) There will be three exams - Exam 1 (15%), Exam 2 (15%) and the Final Exam (20%). All exams will cover material in the course modules, including lectures, synchronous exercises, assignments, readings and videos.