10/30/2025 5:19:57 PM	METRO 10L Course Outline as of Spring 2012	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  METRO 10L	Title:  METEOROLOGY LAB
Full Title:  Meteorology Lab
Last Reviewed:8/26/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.00	Lecture Scheduled	0		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	0
Minimum	1.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  0.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 52.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

The study, interpretation, and analysis of weather data reports, forecasts, surface weather maps, upper level air charts, satellite imagery, and radar data. Emphasis is placed on how weather forecasts are prepared and utilized.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion or Current Enrollment in MTER 10 ( or METRO 10)

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

The study, interpretation, and analysis of weather data reports, forecasts, surface weather maps, upper level air charts, satellite imagery, and radar data. Emphasis is placed on how weather forecasts are prepared and utilized.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:Course Completion or Current Enrollment in MTER 10 ( or METRO 10)
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B3	Laboratory Activity		Fall 1981
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5C	Fulfills Lab Requirement		Fall 1981
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

1.   Examine, construct, and decode station data.  

2.   Interpret satellite imagery and radar returns.  

3.   Analyze and decipher weather maps.

4.   Differentiate between and critique forecasting methods.

5.   Describe how geographical features influence weather.

Topics and Scope

I.    North American geography

     A. Geographic Grid

      B. Time Zones

      C. Place Names

      D. Geographic Features

II.   Meteorological Data

       A. Weather Elements

            1.  Air Temperature

           2.  Air Pressure

           3.  Wind

            4.  Humidity

           5.  Clouds

           6. Precipitation

           7. Visibility

       B. Measurement Scales  

       C. Data Analysis

III.  Earth-Sun Relationships

IV.  Atmosphere

        A.  Composition

       B.  Vertical Structure

V.  Mapping Techniques

       A. Isopleths

      B. Station Models

       C. Weather Map Symbols

VI.  Surface Weather Maps

      A.  Station Data

       B.  Air Pressure

       C.  Fronts       

VII. Upper Air Constant Pressure Charts

       A.  850 - 700 millibar

       B.  500 millibar

       C.  300 - 200 millibar

VIII. Remote Sensing

       A.  Satellite Imagery

           1. Visible

          2. Infrared

       B. Radar

       C. weather balloons

IX.   Forecasting

       A.  Methods

        B.  Accuracy

        C.  Common Uses

X. Weather Services

      A.  Sources

          1. National Weather Service

          2. Other

       B.  Source Reliability

Assignments:

1. Assigned readings (5-20 pages per week)

2.  Assignments: written homework; lab exercises (10-17)

3.  Quizzes (5-17)

4.  Exams (0-4)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 5 - 15%
Written homework
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 30 - 60%
Lab exercises
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 60%
Quizzes and/or exams including objective questions, short answer and/or essay questions
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Participation and attendance

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Exercises for Weather and Climate, 7th edition.  Carbone, Gred.  Pearson/Prentice Hall:  2010

 

Meteorology Lab Manual. 2nd edition  Swanson, Kyle.  Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company:  2010

 

Weather Studies Investigations manual.  American Meteorological Society:  2012.

 

Instructor prepared materials

Print PDF