SCIN 137 AMU week 2 lesson lab Introduction to Meteorology American Military university
- WEEK 2: AIR TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY, CONDENSATION AND CLOUDS
Lesson Overview -
Welcome to Week 2! This week we investigate concepts of temperature, including how and why temperature varies, what influences air temperature in different locations, and how we analyze temperature data. How is it, for example, that the record high for Antarctica is 50°F, but is 100°F in Alaska? Why is it that noon is not the hottest time of the day? How do fog, dew and frost form? Much of what we cover this week will also help you to understand the TV meteorologist as well – be sure to show off your knowledge to family and friends! This week we also investigate atmospheric water content. Contact me if you have any questions while reviewing the material!
Students will be able to:- LO-13. Discuss what controls the temperature of the air.
- LO-12. Explain why air temperature varies.
- LO-13. Discuss what controls the temperature of the air.
- LO-14. Understand how temperature data are gathered and used.
- LO-15. Explain how moisture is observed and measured in the atmosphere.
- LO-16. Discuss the different categories of precipitation.
- LO-17. Describe the various types of clouds.
- LO-18. Explain what atmospheric phenomena produce the different types of clouds.
The following activities and assessments need to be completed this week:
- Read Barry and Chorley: Chapters 3 and 4
- Annotated Bibliography
- Week 2 Lesson
- Week 2 Forum
- Week 2 Lab
- Week 2 Quiz
- COMET Module (Optional)
- Definition of the Mesoscale
- Anticipating Hazardous Weather and Community Risk, 2nd Edition
- Fog: Its Processes and Impacts to Aviation and Aviation Forecasting
This lesson focuses on temperature and moisture and their role in atmospheric phenomena. We will discuss why the temperature varies due to the time of day and why it varies in different places throughout the world. We will also investigate the disparity between the measured temperature and human perception. Water moves in a cycle and is also responsible for humidity and related measurable quantities. Water appears as dew, frost, fog and clouds. Topics to be covered include:
- Daytime and nighttime temperature
- Temperature as a function of geography
- Human perception of temperature
- Water (hydrologic) cycle, evaporation and condensation
- Humidity, relative humidity and their measurement
- Dew, frost and fog
- Clouds and their classification
Introduction
Topics to be covered include:
- Definition of science and the role of thoughtful, logical thinking
- The seven steps of the scientific method
- The dynamic, iterative process of science
- Importance of lab safety and key safety rules for lab and field experiments
If you’re taking this course, then you have already learned the basics of science from a general education science course. This course will build off that foundation by taking a hands-on approach to the scientific method. We will explore in-depth each phase of scientific inquiry, from making observations to designing experiments and analyzing data. We will also analyze excerpts from scientific journals and case studies from historically significant researchers to see how scientific inquiry impacts multiple facets of our daily lives. For this first lesson, we will introduce the scientific method and basic principles of lab safety.
Why do we Trust Scientists?
Whether you realize it or not, we benefit from the results of scientific inquiry every day. When you go to the grocery store, the produce you purchase is the product of extensive agricultural research on the best irrigation, fertilization, and pest control practices. Influenza vaccinations given to children to reduce the frequency of common infectious diseases have undergone decades of research to ensure their safety and efficacy. We can see applications of scientific research in many areas of daily life. For example, atmospheric and climate research influences our weather reports, forestry and wildlife biologists give property owners valuable advice on managing their land, and medical research continually leads to the development of new drugs to treat diseases and contraceptives.
We probably take most of these services for granted and trust them with minimal questioning. But why do we trust vaccinations? Why do so many women around the world trust birth control methods to plan their families? Why do we consult weather reports or trust that antibiotics will treat us when we’re sick? These examples all represent results from the scientific method which lends credibility to findings.
PUBLIC OPINION
Overall, public opinion about science remains positive. As a society, we generally trust scientists due to their rigorous studies that undergo multiple steps of inquiry, analysis, and revision before reaching the general public. Peer review and feedback is critical to the scientific process. Reputable scientists do not portray their opinions in scientific publications or tell us what to think or feel. Instead, they demonstrate their professional integrity by testing their ideas through a dynamic and iterative process of inquiry and publish those results through a rigorous review process.
However, pollsters at the Pew Research Center recently reported a widespread gap in opinion between scientists and the general public on some scientific issues. Issues such as climate change, nuclear power, vaccination safety, and genetically modified foods tend to evoke different responses from scientists and the general public (Vergano, 2015). For example, 88 percent of scientists polled say that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are safe to eat, 87 percent agree that climate change is mostly due to human activity, and 86 percent agree with mandatory childhood vaccines. On the other hand, only 37 percent of non-scientist U.S. adults agree about GMOs, 50 percent agree that humans cause most climate change, and 68 percent believe that childhood vaccines should be required (Vergano, 2015). Many of these issues are contentious largely due to political viewpoints and misunderstandings. Scientists believe that a lack of scientific education and public outreach contributes to these differences of opinion (Vergano, 2015).
This course will put us in the shoes of scientists by learning in-depth about the scientific method and experiencing firsthand the effort that goes into scientific research. If you have ever experienced any doubts about science or questioned any of these politically charged issues, hopefully this course will address your concerns and give you a deeper appreciation for how science is conducted and how it impacts your daily life.