Course Description
Do cities create their own thunderstorms? Will pollution from emerging mega-cities change climate? Exploration of fundamental concepts of the urban-climate system, observational and modeling strategies for studying the urban-climate system, and context for how human activity in the built environment is changing Earth's weather and hydro-climate.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Additional readings, assignments, and questions on tests.
Athena Title
Applied Climatology Urban Envi
Undergraduate Prerequisite
ATSC(GEOG) 3110 or ATSC(GEOG) 3120-3120L or permission of department
Graduate Prerequisite
ATSC(GEOG) 3110 or ATSC(GEOG) 3120-3120L or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
A basic understanding of anthropogenic processes that influence the spatial and temporal variability of Earth’s climate system in urban environments A fundamental treatment of basic physical, thermodynamic, and dynamic processes that couple the urban environment to meteorological-climate processes An opportunity to apply critical thinking to issues at the intersection of the human-natural climate system An ability to recognize the reciprocal interactions between human activity in the urban environments, modification of the climate system, and past/future global environmental change This course meets the following General Education Abilities, by accomplishing the specific learning objectives listed below: Communicate effectively through writing. This is met by a series of writing assignments associated with supplemental reading and data analysis. Communicate effectively through speech. This is met by oral presentations, discussion leading, and classroom participation. Computer Literacy is addressed through course administration, student-faculty electronic interaction, and data analysis activities and assignments. Critical Thinking is central to the learning objectives of this class, and are developed through homework assignments, lecture, classroom discussion, and inquiry- based learning efforts. Moral Reasoning (Ethics) is an important element of this course, as it explores the effects of weather and climate on human welfare. Moral reasoning is developed through lectures, writing assignments, classroom discussion, and inquiry-based learning activities.
Topical Outline
Energetics and dynamics of urban climates Evolution and Characteristics of the urban heat island (UHI) Urban aerosols, pollution and climate feedbacks Urban effects on clouds, precipitation, and lightning Urban Land Use effects on clouds, precipitation, and lightning Modeling of Urban Effects the Climate System Urban environment and hydrological response Urban environment and the carbon cycle Observation of urban climates and effects Societal impacts and mitigation strategies Urban Environment and Climate Change
Syllabus