Geography: Weather, Climate & Landscapes

Introduction to the fundamentals of weather, climate, landform evolution, and plant distribution using a systems approach. Focus on variation in processes over space and time.

First year and sophomores only during week of registration then juniors & seniors can enroll, space permitting; Junior and senior GEOG majors contact instructor; Fulfills natural science non-lab requirements; Open to Degree and PACE students

Bitter cold in Texas, Antarctic ice sheet loss, snow on Mother’s Day, “Godzilla El Niño,” Mega droughts and wildfires in California, Hurricane Sandy, Tropical Storm Irene, July 2023 & 2024 flooding. Why do these events occur? How does climate affect different sectors and communities? This class is an introduction to physical geography. You will learn how the atmosphere works, gain practical skills for interpreting the weather; delve into the processes that govern landforms and control vegetation/ecosystem processes; understand how human activity shapes and is shaped by the environment and landscapes around us. You will be exposed to weather map interpretation, indices, modeling and remote sensing, as we explore the processes and impacts of flooding, anthropogenic (human-induced) climate change and teleconnections such as La Niña. Interactive lectures will be interspersed with short videos, visits from the National Weather Service personnel, in-class discussion groups, labs and practice quizzes.

This is a 3-credit course that meets the non-lab science requirement for College of Arts & Sciences students. As such, students are expected to devote time weekly to both mandatory class attendance and to out-of-class reading, online quizzes and assignments. This out-of-class work should require roughly 6 hours per week of your time, in accordance with the credit hour policy (for explanation, see http://catalogue.uvm.edu/undergraduate/enrollmentregistration/registration/).

Your overall grade will be assigned on the basis of the following tasks, your participation during the semester and your articulated learning. Exercises (6-10) 25 % Group presentation 10 % Mastering Geography quizzes (3-5) 15 % Mid-term examination 20 % Final examination 30 %