Course Description
Introduces the interdisciplinary science studying
the interactions between atmospheric processes and living organisms
(plants,
animals, and humans). How organisms adapt to a changing environment
will
be discussed. A practical, problem-solving approach will be used to
explore
these interactions.
Course Topics
An outline of the topics to be covered can be found here.
Prerequisites
Geography 1001, Climate and Vegetation
Meetings
11:00 am – 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, Guggenheim 201E
Required Text
Campbell, G.S. & Norman, J.M. 1998: An
Introduction to Environmental Biophysics. Springer, New York, 286
pp.
| Exam #1 | September 21, 2004 during regular class time | 25% |
| Exam #2 | October 28, 2004 during regular class time | 25% |
| Exam #3 | December 2, 2004 during regular class time | 25% |
| Assignments (6, equally weighted) | Dates | 25% |
The exams will consist of short and/or essay-type answers. I usually ask you to answer 3/4 or 4/5 questions. All equations and constants will be given.
No makeup exams are given. Students who miss an exam without a documented and acceptable excuse (e.g. medical note) will receive a score of zero for the missed exam. Students with a valid, documented excuse for missing an exam will receive a final course grade calculated excluding the missed exam. If you know of a valid conflict with any of the exams (e.g. three exams on the same day), please contact Dr. Blanken in advance and arrange to take the exam early. Please check the exam dates before you make travel arrangements.
Assignments
There will be six take-home assignments. They can be found at the class
web site, along with any data you may require. The purpose of these
assignments
is to reinforce and further examine in a practical sense key concepts
presented
in lectures. As climatology, as most sciences, deals with large volumes
of data, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of computers.
You
are encouraged to work with others, but you must hand in your own work.
A grade of zero will be given to all parties found copying, followed by
disciplinary action. It is expected that assignments be submitted in a
professional, clean and neat style. Written answers must be in complete
sentences and must be double-spaced and typed. Point form is
unacceptable.
Late assignments will loose 10% per day, and absolutely no
assignments
will be accepted after graded ones have been returned.
Statement on Disabilities
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must
provide a letter from Disability Services (DS) and discuss specific
needs with the professor, preferably
during the first two weeks of class. DS determines accommodations based
on documented disabilities
(303-492-8671, Willard 322, http://www.colorado.edu/sacs/disabilityservices).
Religious Obligations: Conflicts with
Scheduled Exams, Assignments or Class Attendance
I will make every effort to accommodate all students who, because of
religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams,
assignments, or other required attendance,
provided they notify you well in advance of the scheduled conflict.
Whenever possible, students should
notify me at least two weeks in advance of the conflict to request
special accommodation. If the conflict is
legitimate, I will provide the opportunity for alternative time to
write the exam or submit an assignment.
Student Classroom and Course-Related
Behavior
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an
appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to
behavioral standards may be subject to
discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat
students with understanding, dignity and
respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on
the manner in which students express
opinions.
Disruptive students in the academic setting hinder the educational
process. Although disruptive student conduct is already prohibited by
regent Laws and the Students' Rights and
Responsibilities Regarding Standards of Conduct, the purpose of this
policy is to clarify what constitutes
disruptive behavior in the academic setting; what actions faculty and
relevant Assistant/Associate Dean's offices
may take in response to disruptive conduct; and the authority of the
Office of Judicial Affairs to
initiate disciplinary proceedings against students for disruptive
conduct (see http://www.colorado.edu/policies/index.html).
A Note on Academic Honesty &
Plagiarism
The development of the Internet has provided students with historically
unparalleled opportunities for conducting research swiftly and
comprehensively. The availability of these
materials does not, however, release the student from appropriately
citing sources where appropriate; or applying
standard rules associated with avoiding plagiarism. Specifically, the
instructor will be expecting to review papers
written by students drawing ideas and information from various sources
(cited appropriately), presented generally in the
student's words after careful analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. An
assembly of huge blocks of other individuals'
existing material, even when cited, does not constitute an appropriate
representation of this expectation. Uncited, plagiarized
material shall be treated as academically dishonest, and the paper will
be assigned an 'F' as a result. If the
student is confused as to what constitutes plagiarism, he/she should
review the CU Honor Code on this topic (see http://www.colorado.edu/honorcode),
or see the instructor. Papers submitted by any student, written in part
or in
whole by someone other than that student, shall be considered to
constitute fraud under the University Honor Code,
and result in the assignment of an 'F' for the entire course. All
suspected acts of academic honesty will be reported to the
Honor Council.
