This course will provide a broad overview of mountain weather and climate. We will investigate how mountains help to control the weather and climate throughout the western United States. What causes the snow in the Wasatch Mountains to be "the greatest snow on earth"? How can the best places for paragliding and wind surfing be determined? Can clouds be used to estimate winds and stability over nearby mountain peaks? How does the Great Salt Lake interact with the local terrain to develop lake-effect snow storms? The class will use lectures, in-class discussions, homework assignments, a term paper assignment, and the text (Mountain Meteorology by C. David Whiteman) to meet the course objectives.

There are no prerequisites for the course, but it will require application of basic math and reasoning skills.

Material covered in this course is applicable to many other disciplines, such as air pollution, wind energy, road weather, avalanches, and fire weather. The human physiological response to high altitude and cold temperature may also be discussed.

Class Expectations:

Substantial additional time outside of the class is expected to complete reading and other assignments. Most important learning will take place when you seek relevant information on your own and apply the material discussed in class. You are expected to prepare for class in advance - you should come to class ready and willing to participate in class and small-group discussions. This class promotes active learning - expect to become immersed in the subject rather than simply sitting through lectures and being evaluated on the basis of a couple of exams. You will have the opportunity to use interactive computer modules to explore subjects in more depth.

Grading:

Grades will be based upon your performance on the assignments, exams, and a term paper. Students will give a short oral presentation of their term paper topics to the class in the last days of the semester. You may work on assignments with other students, but do not copy from anyone. Due to the number of people enrolled in the course, late assignments well not be accepted; turn in as much as you get done by the deadline. I am available during office hours or by appointment to assist you, if necessary. The weighted contribution of each of these items to your final grade is given below:

Final grades are based on the following scale:
> 90 % guarantees an A or A-
> 80 % guarantees a B+, B, or B-
> 70 % guarantees a C+, C, or C-
> 60 % guarantees a D+, D, or D-
< 60% results in an E

Sometimes cutoff points are adjusted to produce more natural break-points and a reasonable distribution of grades, but please don't count on it.

Other Class Policies:

Students must take every exam with exceptions governed by University Policy. Plagiarizing, copying, cheating or otherwise misrepresenting ones' work will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as harshly as permitted under University Policy. Do not break the scientific code of honor.

I will not take attendance, but keep in mind that this course moves at a rapid pace. Missing just one class can result in a lack of understanding in future classes. In addition, some course material that you are responsible for will only be presented during lectures (i.e., will not be found in the text).

ADA Accommodations: