Mace Bentley
Courses
GEOG 105/106: Introduction to the Atmosphere
GEOG 408/508: Tropical Environmental Hazards (3)
GEOG 460/560: Remote Sensing (3)
MET 320: Synoptic Meteorology (3)
MET 421/521: Advanced Synoptic Meteorology (3)
GEOG 105/106: Introduction to the Atmosphere
Have you ever pondered these questions?
- Why do some thunderstorms produce tornadoes and others do not?
- Why do most hurricanes form in summer and autumn?
- How come it is snowing in Chicago, and raining and 60F in Carbondale?
- Why do fronts trigger severe weather?
- Why are weather forecasts so often wrong?
- Why is the sky blue?
- How are societies impacted by climate ("changes in latitude, changes in attitude" -Jimmy Buffet)?
- How will El Niño impact winter temperatures in Chicago?
- Why do flowers bloom in Chicago before they do in DeKalb?
- Why does it get cooler as you hike up a Colorado mountain?
- Why does the wind blow more from the west than any other direction in Illinois?
- Why should cows not stand under a tree during a thunderstorm?
- Why does it rain when surface temperatures are below 320F?
- Why does it get dark earlier during the winter months?
Learn the answers to these and other intriguing questions in GEOG 105/106. We will explore various atmospheric concepts, examine interesting weather phenomena, and identify how we can apply this information to decisions we face in our daily activities.
What General Education Objectives are met in Geography 105/106?
Through analogies presented in lecture and laboratory it helps students develop critical thinking skills. Introduces students to the scientific method as a means of understanding issues such as global climate change and the ozone hole. Integrates information from other related science fields such as geology, biology, physics, and chemistry. Develops written and computational skills through laboratory assignments, making use of computers and other instruments. Provides a historical review of meteorology, giving perspective to how a science develops and how science is shaped by societal and cultural needs.
Facts about Geography 105/106:
Course Offered: Both spring and fall semesters: 4 credit hours (you must register for both Geog 105 and Geog 106)
General Education: Fulfills a science/math distributive area requirement and matches the following general education goals: develop communication and technical skills, apply various modes of inquiry, and develop an understanding of integrated knowledge, through a combination of lecture material, readings, and laboratory assignments, and exams.
Course Goal: To provide non-meteorology majors with a basic understanding of how the atmosphere works and impacts our lives and environment.
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GEOG408/508: Tropical Environmental Hazards (3)
Examination of natural hazards with a focus on Southeast Asia. Tsunamis, monsoons, typhoons, flooding, droughts, and urban hazards are explored. Interactions among the following three major systems are analyzed with respect to shaping these hazards: the physical environment, social and demographic characteristics, and components of the built environment.
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GEOG 460/560: Remote Sensing (with Wei Luo) (3)
- explain electromagnetic radiation of an object and its interaction with the atmosphere
- interpret aerial photos and satellite imagery
- apply basic techniques of image processing to obtain meaningful information
- understand the components and orbits of meteorological satellites
- interpret satellite imagery pertaining to weather analysis and forecasting
MET 320: Synoptic Meteorology (3)
This course introduces meteorological codes, analysis, and forecasting techniques, and the theory of synoptic-scale weather systems. It will also cover basic principles of atmospheric thermodynamics, kinematics, and numerical weather prediction.
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MET 421/521: Advanced Synoptic Meteorology (3)
Applications of synoptic analysis, forecast techniques, and fluid dynamics to the diagnosis and forecasting of mid-latitude weather systems. Examination of the lifecycle of mid-latitude cyclones using quasi-geostrophic theory. Two hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory.
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