Duration
20h Th, 15h Pr, 2d FW
Number of credits
| Bachelor in geography : general | 3 crédits | |||
| Master in geography : climatology (120 ECTS) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The following subjects are covered : study of its variables of state and their vertical profiles within troposphere, radiation phenomena, greenhouse effect, changes of phase of water, clouds and hydrometeors, general and local atmospheric circulation (components of the wind, storms and tropical cyclones, monsoons, trade winds, prevailing winds, regional winds, foehn effect...), synoptic meteorological conditions and their effects on lived weather, anomalies and climatic variabilities (NAO, ENSO, AO, ...), comparison of some climatic classifications and analyzes of principal types of climates, paleoclimatology. The reading and the analysis of synoptic charts and weather reports are taught starting from concrete cases.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, the student will be able to : - understand the behavior of the troposphere and its effects on "weather", seasons and climates everywhere at the Earth surface. - read and interpret the atmospheric soundings and the meteorological synoptic maps - understand the repercussions of greenhouse gases and human pressures on the environment and the nuisances associated with the climate and with the weather types.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basics of physic and mathematic are essential.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Practical work are organized in three hour modules according to the advance of the theoretical course and in alternation with this one in the same time module.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The lectures are given by two or three hour modules at the Institute of Geography (Bat. B11). Lectures are given with a systematic support of an overhead projector and a multi-media projector. A 5 to 10 min interruption is envisaged in the middle of each lesson. Practical works are organized according to the progress of the course. A scientific calculator is necessary for certain practical works. The attendance to the practical sessions are obligatory.
Recommended or required readings
The sheets of the course are distributed chapter after chapter at the beginning of each course. It is the same for the notes for practical work. The consultation of the following books , available in library is suggested to supplement the information of the course : - Climates (A. Godard and Mr. Tabeaud, Hake, 1993) in french - General Meteorology (J.P. Triplet and G Roche, 1980) in french - Atmosphere, Weather and Climate (R.G. Barry and R.J. Chorley, 1992) - Introduction to climatology (A. Hufty, DeBoeck, 2001) in french
Assessment methods and criteria
Practical works counts for 50 % of the total evaluation. Oral examen.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Dr. Xavier Fettweis, FNRS, Department of Geography - Laboratory of Climatology Web: http://www.climato.be/fettweis