Development of curriculum for a lab to support a meteorology course at the junior college level

 Lab 1 - Explain solar radiation using large globe and high intensity spotlight.

             Instructor will: 

• Introduce course

• Review and explain experiments.

             Students will: 

• Set up globe in adjustable frame

• Tilt globe to simulate various angles of the Sun to the Earth’s axis. Shine spotlight on globe at those angles.

• Measure radiation on Globes surface

• Explain why intensity and duration of radiation varies during the year

• Diagram Sun/Earth relationship at equinoxes and solstices.

• Calculate latitude of Chaffey College.

• Determine where direct radiation strikes the Earth on a given date.

Discussion

Lab 2 – Demonstrate noon Sun angles 

            Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

• Present and explain experiments.

Students will: 

• Graft calculations of noon sun angles at various latitudes.

• Calculate latitudes for various for various sun noon angles

• Explain calculations and effect of noon sun angle.

Discussion 

Lab 3 – Search the Internet for information on meteorology 

            Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

• Present and explain experiments

Students will: 

·        Search the Internet for web sites and information concerning meteorology. 

Samples: 

o       maria.usno.navy.mil/esp.html

o       aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data

o       cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/wx/wise/homerbe.html

o       titan.srrb.noaa.gov/surfrad/surfpage.htm

Discussion

Lab 4 – Demonstrate effects of heating and cooling on weather/dew point using the seashore land model 

Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

·        Present and explain experiments

Students will:  

·        Prepare model by filling basin with water to shore line and putting ice in tray over “uplands”. 

·        Point spotlight directly at water in basin. 

·        Observe formation of fog and then precipitation of “rain” over “uplands”. 

Demonstrate effects of pressure on dew point. 

Students will. 

·        Partially fill rubber bulb with water. 

·        Compress rubber bulb to force air out of glass tube. 

·        Light match and hold outside of tube to glass bulb.  Release rubber bulb drawing air and smoke particles into glass bulb. 

·        Close tube and release rubber bulb. 

·        Observe formation of fog. 

Discussion 

Lab 5 – Demonstrate differential heating between land water. 

            Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

·        Present and explain experiments

              Students will: 

• Fill two equal sized containers, one with water the other with sand.

• Suspend a thermometer in each container with the bulb just below the surface.

• Place the spotlight 3 to 5 inches over the containers and turn it on.

• Measure temperatures at one-minute intervals for ten minutes.

• Turn of the light and again measure the temperatures at one-minute intervals for ten minutes.

• Plot the results on a heating table and explain the results.

Discussion 

Test on 1^st half of lab. 

Lab 6 – Demonstrate the effect of wind on bodies of water.           

Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

·        Present and explain experiments 

Students will: 

• Fill stream table with water

• Hold fan on surface and observe effect.

• Using wave machine, generate waves and observe effect on sand at shoreline and movement on floating object.

Discussion

Lab 7 – Demonstrate convection using glass case and candle 

            Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

·        Present and explain experiments 

Students will: 

• Prepare case by placing candle inside and glass tubes in sockets, one over the candle.

• Light candle, close case, and allow to heat.

• Light wick, allow to smoke and hold over glass tube not over candle.

• Observe as smoke is drawn into case, across it and ejected over candle.

            Demonstrate effect of air pressure on airflow 

Students will: 

·        Pump air out of glass bulb. 

·        Light wick and hold it near mouth of rubber tube. 

·        Open tube and observe flow of air into glass bulb. 

Discussion 

Lab 8 – Wave action 

            Instructor will VCR run tape showing various aspects of waves and their effects. 

            Students will observe. 

Discussion 

Lab 9 – Demonstrate effects of wind and water flow on land.

Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

·        Present and explain experiments                                   

Students will: 

·        Prepare streambed   by filling it with sand. 

·        Direct fan at sand and observe results. 

·        Tilt streambed up, pour water onto higher end of bed, and observe results. 

·        Apply duff and repeat last action. 

Discussion 

Lab 10 – Student experiments 

Instructor will: 

• Review last weeks lab.

Students will: 

·        Present own experiments for extra credit 

Test on 2^nd half of lab.

(Return to EVOC 508/509/510)