锘� Course specification for CLI1110

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Course specification
The current and official versions of the course specifications are available on the web at .
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CLI1110 Weather and Climate

Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba
Short Description: Weather and Climate
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
School or Department : School of Sciences
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 010701 - Atmospheric Sciences
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Rationale

The study of weather and climate is recognised as an important inclusion for any student intent on understanding impacts of climate change and climate variability. Weather and climate have large effects in many world regions and influence many societal activities. A better understanding of the global weather and climate systems and their impacts aids the sustainable development of our society and utilisation of natural resources. Knowledge of the concepts of weather and climate is fundamental to any broad appreciation of applied meteorology and climatology and their contribution to sustainable environmental management and resource utilisation.

Synopsis

This course is an introductory descriptive level course that introduces participants to the weather and climate systems of the world, outlining the global and regional processes down to the synoptic scale weather systems, and describes the structure of the global climate system. Weather and climate drive the composition of our natural environment and impact upon many aspects of human endeavour. After completing the course students will be able to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for the complexity of the world's and Australia's climate and weather systems and will be able to use their knowledge in order to comprehend and debate future climate change and variability. Access to the internet is required.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. describe general atmospheric and oceanic circulation systems, regional and local climate mechanisms;
  2. apply simple concepts to the areas of the atmospheric structure, local ocean and atmosphere circulation systems, and the basic principles of atmosphere and ocean motion;
  3. describe the major non-seasonal climate mechanisms that lead to departures from anticipated weather and climate pattern;
  4. describe the practical benefits of weather and climate studies in areas as agricultural climatology and applications;
  5. demonstrate an understanding of weather and climate forecasting.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. The global setting 10.00
2. Structure of the atmosphere and ocean 20.00
3. Horizontal motion of the atmosphere and ocean 15.00
4. Synoptic circulations 15.00
5. Weather and climate of Australia 10.00
6. Seasonal and non-seasonal variations in climate 20.00
7. Introduction to applied climatology and meteorology 10.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=CLI1110)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Sturman, A P and Tapper, N J 2005, The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand, 2nd edn, Oxford 精东传媒app Press, Melbourne.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
American Meteorological Society, Abstracts and Table of Contents, Journal of Physical Oceanography.
(available through USQ Library's e-journal library.)
American Meteorological Society, Journal of Climate.
(available through USQ Library's e-journal library.)
Royal Meteorogical Society, International Journal of Climatology.
(available through USQ Library's e-journal library.)
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science
(available through USQ Library's e-journal library.).
Nature Publishing Group, NATURE GEOSCIENCE
(available through USQ Library's e-journal library.).
Nature Publishing Group, NATURE
(available through USQ Library's e-journal library.).

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Examinations 2.00
Lectures 26.00
Private 精东传媒app 115.00
Tutorials 26.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
EXERCISES 1-5 100 20 26 Mar 2020
EXERCISES 6-10 100 20 14 May 2020
Take Home Exam 100 60 End S1 (see note 1)

Notes
  1. This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official examination timetable has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.

    Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.

    To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2).

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Candidates are only allowed to access specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are:
    i. writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination);
    ii. calculators which cannot hold textual information (students must indicate on their examination paper the make and model of any calculator(s) they use during the examination).
    iii. Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. 精东传媒app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. The due date for assessments is the date by which a student must despatch an assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date if requested by the Examiner. Students must retain a copy of each item of assessment. This must be produced within 48 hours if required by the Examiner.

  2. Students who obtain an overall passing mark, but who do not perform satisfactorily in an examination, may, at the discretion of the examiner, be granted a supplementary examination.

  3. Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.

Date printed 19 June 2020