MET 1010: Introduction to Weather

Instructor: Katia Matcheva Time: MWF 3:00-3:50 pm Location: NPB 1001 Office hours: MWF 2:00-2:45 pm (room 2073)

The Rules of the Game • Time and Location Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3:00-3:50 pm, NPB 1001 • Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 2:00-2:45 pm in my office

(NPB 2073). e-mail: katia@phys.ufl.edu tel. : 392-0286 • Required Materials ♦  The main textbook -"Meteorology Today" by C. Donald Ahrens,

9th edition. The bookstore has the accompanying workbook and study guide but it is not required.

♦  We will NOT be using the Student Response System for in-class evaluation (aka clickers).

• MET 1010 web page http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~katia/Teaching/MET1010 Please check for updates regularly.

Exams • Exams ♦  Three midterm exams (33 multiple choice questions, 3 points each). ♦  Final exam (33 multiple choice questions, 3 points each). ♦  Examples of old exams from previous years are posted on the web-

page. May also check out Gainesville Sun’s “Weather Trivia”. ♦  The dates of the exams are announced:

• Midterm 1: February 10, Friday (in class) • Midterm 2: March 19, Monday (in class) • Midterm 3: April 16, Monday (in class) • Final exam: May 3, Thursday, 5:30-6:20 pm

♦  You will be allowed one drop. ♦  There will be one cumulative make-up exam at the end of the

semester. ♦  Register for the course on E-learning! Grades will be posted there. • Assignments

There will be no assignments or homework. Your grade will be based entirely on your performance on the exams.

Grading Scale

Grade percent score points total A 85% and above 337 - 396 A- 78% and above 309 - 336 B+ 71% and above 282 - 308 B 65% and above 258 - 281 B- 58% and above 230 - 257 C+ 51% and above 202 - 229 C 45% and above 179 - 201 C- 42% and above 167 - 178 D+ 38% and above 151 - 166 D 35% and above 139 - 150 D- 30% and above 119 - 138 E under 30% 118 or less

The grades are NOT curved. The final counts twice. The lowest score is dropped. Anyone who scores 85 points or higher on each of the three midterm exams will be given an A and will not be required to take the final exam. See syllabus for details.

Grading Example

• Midterm 1 45 99 • Midterm 2 75 99 • Midterm 3 60 99 • Final exam 81x2 99 • Total 75+60+81+81=297 out of 396 • Percent score 75% • Final Grade B+

Max. Actual

Grading Example

• Midterm 1 81 99 • Midterm 2 75 99 • Midterm 3 60 99 • Final exam 45x1 99 • Total 81+75+60+45=261 out of 396 • Percent score 65.9% • Final Grade B

Max. Actual

Grading Example

• Midterm 1 87 99 • Midterm 2 87 99 • Midterm 3 90 99 • Final exam 0x1 99 • Total 264 out of 396 • Percent score NA • Final Grade A

• Typically those are about 15-20% of the students

Max. Actual

Grading Example

• Midterm 1 90 99 • Midterm 2 78 99 • Midterm 3 93 99 • Midterm average: 88%, but must take final • Final exam 57x1 99 • Total 318 out of 396 • Percent score 80.3% • Final Grade A-

Max. Actual

Textbook • 9th 8th edition

• “Light,Color and Atmosheric Optics” is Chapter 19 • “Climate Change” is Chapter 16 • Includes pictures of hurricane Katrina • Includes removable cloud chart

• 7th edition

• “Light,Color and Atmosheric Optics” is Chapter 4 • “Climate Change” is Chapter 19

What did the students think of the Workbook and Study Guide?

• Multiple choice question with five possible answers: ♦  I did not purchase the workbook/study guide

•  33 students (38.5%) ♦  I bought the workbook/study guide but rarely used it

•  19 students (22.5%) ♦  I often used the workbook/study guide but did not find it

particularly useful. •  2 students (2.5%)

♦  I often used the workbook/study guide and found it quite useful. •  19 students (22.5%)

♦  Workbook? What workbook? •  12 students (14%)

Course web page http://www.phys.ufl.edu/~katia/Teaching/MET1010 • Home • Syllabus • Class notes • Exams • Related links ♦  UF weather station (on the roof of the Physics

Department) ♦  Weather channel ♦  Intellicast.com ♦  National Weather Service ♦  USA Today Weather ♦  Channel4 News Hurricane Coverage ♦  Learning Support Services