College of the Atlantic > Summer Programs > Summer Courses for K-12 Teachers > Course Syllabi

Weather Forecasting (Week One)

The course will begin with a comprehensive overview of meteorology, providing students with a foundation for the rest of the week. Students will develop forecasting methods and, teaming-up with classmates, produce forecasts based on geographic regions. We will take several field trips, including visits to an instrument manufacturing facility in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park weather station, and possible U.S. Coast Guard Station in Southwest Harbor.
Day 1 (AM) Earth System, Orbital Parameters, Radiation Budget, Atmospheric Makeup,
Seasons,History of Theory, Ozone Layer   (PM) Global Circulation, Orbital Forcing, Hadley and Ferrel Cells, Formation of Highs and Lows, General Flow Patterns, Jetstreams, Polar Front, Concepts of Air Pressure and Winds, Semi-Permanent Systems
Day 2 (AM)   Review Synoptic Analysis Formation of Air Masses, Fronts, and Storms, General Circulation, Storm Life Cycle (PM) Meteorology Lab Orientation
Day 3 (AM) Local Effects, Storm Tracks, Sea Breeze, Valley Winds, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Weather Instruments and Observations (PM) Field trip (Rainwise instrument maker, Coast Guard for observation) Preliminary Forecasts
Day 4 (AM) Weather Forecasting, History, Folklore, Development, Modern Applications, Computer Models, Media Forecasting, Classroom Applications (PM) Forecasting Lab
Day 5 (AM) Classroom Applications and Forecasting Lab

CLIMATE CHANGE (Week Two)

Students will team-up with classmates to work on various opportunities to analyze, research, and describe examples of climate change in their state or hometown. Teams will also explore possible adaptations or remedial actions to reduce or mitigate the impact(s) of climate change in their region of the country. The course will begin with an overview of the climate system, how weather fits into it, and changes over time. At least one field trip is planned and several guest lecturers will address specific key topics.

Day 1 (AM) Definitions, Basic global circulation, Hadley cell, Polar cell
   (PM) Regional circulation, air mass theory, forecasting lab
Day 2 (AM) Fronts, storms, long-term trends
   (PM) Review Climatic measurements, forecasting lab
Day 3 (AM) Climatic variables, el Nino, la Nina, MJO, PDO
Day 4 (AM) Current research topics, paleoclimatology, guest lecture
   (PM) Historical climate change, Geopolitical considerations
Day 5 (AM) Review Class project presentations