ATSC 110HON - Meteorology I
2023 Spring Syllabus, Section 07, CRN 8155
Course Information
You are responsible for knowing this material, so please read carefully. Any changes will be announced in a Blackboard Announcement. You will be responsible for any changes. Your continued enrollment in this course is your implicit agreement to abide by the requirements of this class.
This syllabus describes the requirements and procedures for ATSC 110 Meteorology I.
Times and Location
Instructor Information
Dr. Montana Etten-Bohm
Email: montana.ettenbohm@und.edu
Office: Clifford Hall Room 424
2023 Spring Office Hours:
M 11-12pm, T/Th 12:15-1:45pm, W 12-1pm, F 9:15-10:15am
Or by appointment: https://app.simplymeet.me/DrEB
Office Phone: 701-777-3180
Course Description
Learning Outcomes
This class is designed to aid you in understanding atmospheric processes that drive synoptic weather systems.
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:
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Determine relationships and differences between various components of the weather
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Understand various physical laws that play integral roles in describing how the atmosphere works
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Interpret data provided on various weather charts and images
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Be able to make informed decisions based on the weather forecast
Course Materials
“Meteorology Today” 13th Edition (older editions acceptable), C. Donald Ahrens/Robert Henson (Recommended)
You can purchase the e-textbook at the ‘UND Bookstore’ or purchase the e-textbook from Cengage (publisher). Information about ‘Meteorology Today’ is located under the ‘Textbooks’ tab on Blackboard. The textbook and older versions are also on course reserve at the bookstore and can be checked out for temporary use.
Technical Requirements/Assistance
Whether you’re taking courses in the classroom or online, it’s important to have the right technology and equipment. Visit the UND Technical Requirements webpage for more information. Students are expected to use their official UND email in the course. For technical assistance, please contact UND Technical Support at 701.777.2222. Visit the University Information Technologies (UIT) website for their hours, help documents and other resources.
Course Logistics
Access and Log in Information
This course was developed and will be facilitated utilizing Blackboard. To get started with the course, please go to: http://blackboard.UND.edu and log in with your NDUS.Identifier, Username and Password. If you do not know your NDUS Identifier or have forgotten your password, please visit Your NDUS Account page on the UIT website.
Course Overview
The course content is organized into 16 weeks for the semester. Each week contains a purpose, learning outcomes, and a variety of links to articles, video/audio files, and other instructional resources selected to enhance the learning experience and support the various topics. Discussions, surveys, assignments, quizzes and tests will be used to assess your comprehension and application of those materials.
Essential Studies Math, Science, & Technology Course
This is an Essential Studies Math, Science, & Technology course. It therefore fits into the following subareas:
Mathematics: Mathematics is a body of knowledge based on patterns, abstraction and logical reasoning, often involving quantity, structure, space, or change. Mathematics uses formal reasoning to investigate relationships between abstract patterns.
- Many courses in mathematics involve numerical skills and quantitative reasoning.
- ES courses in mathematics should give students some experience in abstract reasoning as well as the use of such reasoning to reach conclusions about the world.
Natural Sciences: Pure science is concerned with the production of knowledge about the natural world. As such, it is often based on natural observation, experimentation and analysis.
- Courses in the natural sciences make use of inductive and deductive reasoning, in conjunction with the scientific method, to investigate how the natural physical, chemical, and biological world operates.
- ES courses in the natural sciences should give students experience in asking questions about the natural world and the chance to use observation and experimentation to formulate answers to those questions.
Engineering and Technology: Engineering and technology are concerned with the construction or production of tangible items. They often involve application of mathematics or science to produce useful products, and they make use of mathematics and the natural sciences to design, create and alter the human environment and our interactions with that environment.
- Courses in engineering teach students how engineering/technology projects are initiated and carried out.
- ES courses ask students to think carefully about societal and cultural consequences of the use of engineering and technology.
Essential Studies Special Emphasis Area
This course is an Essential Studies Special Emphasis course in Quantitative Reasoning, which means it must emphasize improving your confidence with mathematics, your ability to interpret data, your ability to make decisions using data, your ability to use mathematics in academic and practical contexts, and your number sense.
Assignments in this course should help you become comfortable with quantitative ideas and at ease in applying quantitative methods. They should help you reason with numbers, data, and graphs, including being able to make inferences based on this type of information. This includes being able to use these quantitative skills to make decisions and solve problems in everyday life, thereby making mathematics and mathematical proficiency a powerful tool for living, as engrained in your intellectual toolkit as reading and speaking.
ES Quantitative Reasoning courses should also help you by requiring you to use mathematical and quantitative tools in context – and not just as part of abstract problem solving. This may include civic, professional, or personal situations that you may be likely to encounter. Assignments should help you build accurate intuition about the meaning of numbers, confidence in estimation, and common sense about employing numbers to measure things.
Resources
Many services are available to UND students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.
Course Requirements/Expectations
- You will review the Syllabus and Course Schedule posted on Blackboard.
- You will complete and submit assignments, exams, etc. by the dated noted in Blackboard and on the course schedule.
- You will participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from the instructor and/or peers.
- You will only use technology appropriately within the classroom.
- Using computers, tablets, and phones inappropriately (playing games, posting on social media, watching sports, etc.) will result in dismissal from the classroom.
- You will act in a professional and courteous manor when interacting with me and your fellow students.
Communication
Announcements
In lieu of emails, announcements will be posted on Blackboard on a regular basis. You are required to enable announcements as email notifications.
Communicating with me
For ease of communication, a class Slack Channel will be used:
The Slack Channel is required for communicating with me and your classmates. If your question regarding course material, course schedule, homework question, etc. applies to the entire class (meaning your question could potentially benefit others), please post to the Slack Channel first. If your question is more personal to you (i.e., disability request, grade question, etc.), you can email me using the email address located at the top of this syllabus. The Slack Channel is the best way to get in touch with me on weekends or after 5pm on weekdays.
Course Etiquette
When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas.
Assessment Summary
This course is made up of a series of assignments and assessments to assist you in achieving the course learning objectives/outcomes. In this course your learning will be assessed in the following ways:
Exams
All exams will be open-note and proctored in class. Please see the course schedule for specific dates.
Quizzes
All quizzes will be closed-note and proctored in class. Please see the course schedule for specific dates.
Homework
Homework will be assigned through Blackboard each week. To allow for practice, students will be allowed two attempts for each homework assignment.
Class Participation
While class attendance is not required, it is highly recommended, and missing class will likely negatively impact your grade.
Group Forecasting Assignment
For bonus, students will have the opportunity to make and present a forecast for Grand Forks. More details will be given later in the semester. This assignment is required for Honors students.
Breakdown of Weighted Totals
Homework – 36%
16 Quizzes (2 dropped) – 54% (3.857% each)
Group Forecasting Assignment – 10%
Final Grade Scale
A - 90% to 100%
B - 80% to 89%
C - 70% to 79%
D - 60% to 69%
F - 0% to 59%
Course Schedule
Week of | Reading(s): | Agenda/Topic: | Due: |
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1/10 | Week 1: Ch 1 The Earth & Its Atmosphere | ||
1/17 | Week 2: Ch 2 Energy: Warming the Earth & the Atmosphere | ||
1/24 | Week 3: Ch 3 Seasonal & Daily Temperatures | ||
1/31 | Week 4: Ch 4 Atmospheric Moisture | ||
2/7 | Week 5: Ch 5 Condensation: Dew, Fog, & Clouds | ||
2/14 | Week 6: Ch 9 Wind: Small Scale & Local Systems & Ch 10 Wind: Global Systems | ||
2/21 | Week 7: Ch 6 Stability & Cloud Development | ||
2/28 | Week 8: Ch 7 Precipitation | ||
3/7 | Week 9: Ch 8 Atmosphere in Motion: Air Pressure, Forces, & Wind | ||
3/14 | No Class | ||
3/21 | Week 10: Ch 11 Air Masses & Fronts | ||
3/28 | Week 11: Ch 12 Mid-Latitude Cyclones | ||
4/4 | Week 12: Ch 13 Weather Forecasting | ||
4/11 | Week 13: Ch 14 Thunderstorms | ||
4/18 | Week 14: Ch 15 Tornadoes | ||
4/25 | Week 15: Ch 17: Global Climate & Ch 18: Earth’s Changing Climate | ||
5/2 | Finals Week | ||
5/9 | No Class |
Course Policies
Assignment Policy
Due dates for each assignment or activity will be posted in Blackboard.
Late Work
All assignments must be submitted by the due dates posted in the course. The acceptance of late assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.
Excused Absences
Except for extenuating circumstances, excused absences makeup work should be arranged before the absence. If not available to be made up before, notification from the student to the instructor within a week of missing the assignment is required.
Valid Excuses
- Athletes (I need your Travel Schedules)
- National Guard (I need your Drill Weekends)
- ROTC (I need your Training Drill Weekend, if any)
- Veterans (I need your VA appoints in Fargo, if any)
- Other UND events (I need your date(s) of Travel before the specific event)
- Medical Emergency (I will need documentation)
- Funerals (I will need documentation)
- Covid-19 Illness or Quarantined (Provide Notification from UND)
- Other Illness (Doctor’s note required)
Pictures of thermometers are not valid excuses.
Unexcused Absences
Homeworks will remain available for 10 days after the due date for students who would still like to complete the homework for an unexcused reason. However, a penalty of 10% per day late will be assessed. If exams or quizzes are missed for unexcused reasons, the student must email me to discuss making it up and must be made up within a week of the due date. However, for unexcused absences, a 35% penalty off the top will be assessed.
Incompletes
It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage.
Course Evaluation
Around the 3rd week and middle of the semester, you will be asked to complete a formative assessment to see how the course is going. Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to complete an online course evaluation form (SELFI). Your feedback on the course is extremely valuable to me. I read my students’ comments carefully and use them to improve the course the next time I teach it.
- When the time comes, please let me know which aspects of the course helped you learn—and which aspects might be modified to help future students learn more effectively.
- Please note that the course evaluations are anonymous and that I won’t see the results until after the grades for the course are submitted, allowing you to provide honest and constructive feedback.
- And if you have feedback to offer before the end of the semester, even if not specifically asked for, please let me know.
Netiquette
When participating in class (online or in person) it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Netiquette is a set of rules for behaving properly online. Here are a few basic points to remember when communicating in this course:
Be scholarly. Use proper language, grammar, and spelling. Explain your thoughts, justify opinions, and credit the ideas of others by citing scholarly resources. Avoid misinforming others when you are unsure of the answer. When discussing something and supplying a guess, clearly state that.
Be respectful. Respect the privacy of others. Do not share personal or professional information about others unless permission has been granted. Respect diversity and opinions that differ from their own. Be tactful when you communicate.
Be professional. Everyone should strive to give their best impression online. Truthfulness, accuracy, and running a final spell check are appropriate expectations for university students. Writing in a legible font and limiting the use of emoticons is considered professional behavior. Profanity and participation in hostile interactions, known as flaming, is unprofessional as well as disruptive.
Be polite. Students should address professors and instructors by the appropriate title or requested name. Students should interact online politely, just as they would be expected to do in a physical environment. Sarcasm, rudeness, and writing in all capital letters (shouting) should be avoided.
Pronouns
Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and personal pronouns that correspond to their gender identity, including non-binary pronouns, for example: they/them/theirs, ze/zir/zirs, etc.
I recognize that preferred names and pronouns may change during the quarter, if at any point during the quarter you would like to be addressed differently, please let me know.
As part of our commitment to inclusion in this course, it is important that all students in this class respect the preferred names and pronouns of their peers. Mistakes in addressing one another may happen. If you make a mistake or are corrected, please briefly apologize and correct yourself.
College/Department Policies
Resolution of Problems
Should a problem occur, you should speak to your instructor first. If the problem is not resolved, meet with Dr. Matt Gilmore. If the problem continues to be unresolved, go to the department chair, and next to the college Dean. Should the problem persist, you have the right to go to the Provost next, and then to the President.
University of North Dakota Policies & Resources
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a serious matter, and any deviations from appropriate behavior will be dealt with strongly. At the discretion of the professor, situations of concern may be dealt with as a scholastic matter or a disciplinary matter.
As a scholastic matter, the professor has the discretion to determine appropriate penalties for the student’s workload or grade, but the situation may be resolved without involving many individuals. An alternative is to treat the situation as a disciplinary matter, which can result in suspension from the University, or have lesser penalties. Be aware that I view this as a very serious matter and will have little tolerance and/or sympathy for questionable practices. A student who attempts to obtain credit for work that is not their own (whether that be on a paper, quiz, homework assignment, exam, etc.) will likely receive a failing grade for that item of work, and at the professor’s discretion, may also receive a failing grade in the course. For more information read the Code of Student Life.
Access and Opportunity, Disability Support, & Medical Services
The University of North Dakota is committed to providing equal access to students with documented disabilities. To ensure access to this class and your program, please contact Disability Services for Students (DSS) to engage in a confidential discussion about accommodations for the classroom and clinical settings. Accommodations are not provided retroactively. Students are encouraged to register with DSS at the start of their program. More information can be obtained by email UND.dss@UND.edu or by phone at 701.777.2664.
COVID-19
UND is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment while providing quality learning experiences for our students. COVID-19’s continued presence within our UND community may necessitate changes in classroom management as the academic year progresses. As such, UND asks students and instructors to be flexible when necessary to promote a safe environment for learning. Please do not attend an in-person class or lab if you are feeling ill, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or if you have been directed by health professionals to quarantine or isolate. If you are not able to attend class or lab, please notify your instructor as soon as possible and discuss options for making up any missed work in order to ensure your ability to succeed in the course. If you will have an extended absence due to serious illness or other uncontrollable circumstances, you may request an absence notification through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Similarly, if your instructor is ill they may need to cancel class or temporarily move your course to online delivery to ensure that you are able to complete the course successfully. Instructors may require students to wear masks in the classroom or in the laboratory as a preventative measure designed to facilitate uninterrupted classroom engagement and to facilitate health and safety in the classroom. If your instructor does require masks in class or in a laboratory, you are expected to comply with that request.
UND also strongly encourages all members of the University community, including students, to get vaccinated, seek out testing when needed, and model positive behavior both on- and off-campus to foster a healthy and safe learning environment for all students. Individuals who would like to discuss disability accommodations regarding masks should contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS) office at 701.777.2664 or UND.dss@UND.edu. Individuals who are unable to wear a mask due to a sincerely held religious belief should contact the UND Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office at 701.777.4171 or UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu.
Religious Accommodations
UND offers religious accommodations, which are reasonable changes in the academic environment that enable a student to practice or observe a sincerely held religious belief without undue hardship on the University. Examples include time for prayer or the ability to attend religious events or observe a religious holiday. To request an accommodation, complete the student religious accommodation request form. If you have any questions, you may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office.
Pregnancy Accommodations
Students who need assistance with academic adjustments related to pregnancy or childbirth may contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or Academic Affairs to learn about your options. Additional information and services may be found at Pregnancy Resources.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
It is the policy of the University of North Dakota that no person shall be discriminated against because of race, religion, age, color, gender, disability, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, veteran’s status, or political belief or affiliation and the equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. Concerns regarding Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, ADA, and Section 504 may be addressed to Donna Smith, Assistant Vice President for Equal Opportunity & Title IX and Title IX/ADA Coordinator, 102 Twamley Hall, 701.777.4171, UND.EO.TitleIX@UND.edu or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Education, 230 S. Dearborn St., 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604 or any other federal agency.
Reporting of Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct
If you or a friend has experienced sexual misconduct, such as sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, please contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office or UND’s Title IX Coordinator, Donna Smith, for assistance: 701.777.4171; donna.smith@UND.edu; or visit the Title IX webpage. You may also contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX office if you or a friend has experienced discrimination or harassment based on a protected class, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, pregnancy, marital or parental status, veteran's status, or political belief or affiliation.
Faculty Reporting Obligations Regarding Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Misconduct
It is important for students to understand that faculty are required to share with UND’s Title IX Coordinator any incidents of sexual misconduct or of discrimination or harassment based on a protected class that they become aware of, even if those incidents occurred in the past or are disclosed as part of a class assignment. This does not mean an investigation will occur if the student does not want that, but it does allow UND to provide resources to help the student continue to be successful at UND. If you have been impacted by discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, you can find information about confidential support services on the Equal Opportunity & Title IX webpage..
UND Cares Program
How to Seek Help When in Distress
We know that while college is a wonderful time for most students, however, some students may struggle or have issues that arise. You may experience students in distress on campus, in your classroom, in your home, and within residence halls. Distressed students may initially seek assistance from faculty, staff members, their parents, and other students. In addition to the support we can provide to each other, there are also professional support services available to students through the Dean of Students and University Counseling Center. Both staffs are available to consult with you about getting help or providing a friend with the help that he or she may need. For more additional information, please visit the UND Cares Program Webpage.
How to Recognize When a Student is in Distress
The term “distressed” can mean any of the following:
- Student has significant changes in eating, sleeping, grooming, spending, or other daily activities.
- Student has cut off or minimized contact with family or friends.
- Student has significant changes in performance or involvement in academics, sports, extracurricular, or social activities.
- Student describes problems (missing class, not remembering, destructive behavior) that result from experiences with drinking or drugs.
- Student is acting withdrawn, volatile, tearful, etc.
- Student is acting out of character or different than usual.
- Student is talking explicitly about hopelessness or suicide.
- Student has difficulty concentrating or difficulty carrying on a normal conversation.
- Student has excessive dependence on others for company or support.
- Student reports feeling out of control of one’s emotions, thoughts, or behaviors.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
Today, the University of North Dakota rests on the ancestral lands of the Pembina and Red Lake Bands of Ojibwe and the Dakota Oyate - presently existing as composite parts of the Red Lake, Turtle Mountain, White Earth Bands, and the Dakota Tribes of Minnesota and North Dakota. We acknowledge the people who resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Ojibwe and Oyate people permeate this land. As a university community, we will continue to build upon our relations with the First Nations of the State of North Dakota - the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation, Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
Additional Resources
It is my goal to foster an environment of mutual respect in which everyone feels comfortable voicing their opinions, sharing their stories, and learning about potentially heavy or personally relevant material. If, at any point, you feel like the information covered in this class elicits thoughts, feelings, or concerns that you would like to discuss further, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or the UND Counseling Center (701-777-2127).
Further, if you experience extenuating circumstances, sexual violence, identity-based harm, or any other personal crisis during the semester, don’t hesitate to reach out to me so we can provide academic assistance and help you in this course, and put you in contact with the appropriate resources and services (if needed).
- UND Care Team: 701-777-2664 (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM M-F) or 701-777-3491 (evenings and weekends)
- UND Campus Police: 701-777-3491·UND Student Health: 701-777-4500
- UND Title IX Resources
- Abuse and Rape Crisis Hotline (CVIC): 701-746-8900 (24 hours)
- Grand Forks Police Department: 701-787-8000 (24 hours)
- Emergency Room: 701-780-5280
- UND Student Diversity and Inclusion: 701-777-6985
- Food For Thought Pantry: (Wilkerson Commons Room 169; 701-777-4200)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (1-800-273-8255)