Thomas Edison State University | Prior Learning Assessment Course Description
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PLA Portfolio Assessment Course Subjects

Weather

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Courses 1-8 of 8 matches.
Aviation Weather   (AVF-203)   3 credits  
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Course Description
A study and analysis of mid-latitude meteorology in the Northern Hemisphere with an emphasis on those phenomena affecting aircraft operation.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Describe weather phenomena which impacts aviation and flight operations, including atmospheric composition and atmospheric circulation systems.
  • Demonstrate or explain how to conduct basic aviation weather forecasting.
  • Discuss aviation weather hazards such as wind shear, icing, severe weather, and other similar phenomena.
  • Explain how to read and interpret weather charts and maps, routine meteorological reports and forecasts (METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, SIGMETs, etc.).
  • Analyze and explain the impact of weather on aviation businesses.
  • Demonstrate how to gather, analyze, and use weather data during preparation for flight operations, including the impact of such information on decisions to fly or not fly.
  • Explain the following weather phenomena and their impacts on aviation operations: wind shear, mountain waves, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, jet stream shifts, el nino and la nina.

 
Weather Observation   (EAS-235)   3 credits  
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Course Description
Practice in observing weather elements; making instrument evaluations; encoding/recording weather observations of sky conditions, cloud forms, atmospheric phenomena, visibility and obstructions, wind, temperature, humidity, pressure and precipitation; and classification of storm echoes received on storm detection equipment.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Demonstration of knowledge of standards instruments used to record weather conditions; how they work, their uses, and limitations or sources of error.
  • Be able to explain how visual observations are made ( e.g. Beaufort Scale), including sky conditions, cloud forms, other atmospheric phenomena (e.g. halos, sun dogs, smoke, etc.)
  • Understanding of the standard symbols utilized to record this data on weather maps.
  • Explain how storms are detected utilizing remote sensing (e.g. Doppler Radar, bow echoes, etc.) and how the patterns produced through such instruments are interpreted.

 
Plotting Weather Maps   (EAS-330)   3 credits  
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Course Description
Preparation of maps and charts from land, airways, and ship station reports; includes thermodynamic diagrams, constant pressure charts, aircraft meteorological reports, and local area surface charts.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental elements of weather, the instruments used to gather this information and the scales on which such information are reported (e.g. temperature, humidity, dew point, wind direction and speed, cloud type and ceiling, types and amounts or precipitation, etc.)
  • Demonstrate an ability to utilize the Laws of Thermodynamics that apply to weather and climate to explain how changes in one element may produce changes in others. (e.g. The Ideal Gas Law; the relationship between temperature and pressure)
  • Apply dynamic principles to explain weather forming processes and conditions such as convention, stability, Wet and Dry Adiabatic Lapse rates, etc.
  • Construct of weather maps from raw data obtained from sources at land, sea and aloft, using the correct symbols
  • Construct Basic Thermodynamic Charts, using one of the more commonly utilized formats (e.g. Skew-t, Stuve, or Tephigram) and be able to explain how they are constructed, what they reveal about both present and potential weather, and why they are utilized.

 
Introduction to Meteorology   (EAS-131)   3 credits  
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Course Description
Bringing together geography, chemistry, physics, and other scientific disciplines, the course will cover topics including meteorological elements, air masses, synoptic, regional, and local scale weather systems; severe weather; meteorological observation, instrumentation, and forecasting; aviation weather; agricultural meteorology; air pollution, global warming, climate change, and renewable energy applications.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of meteorology vocabulary.
  • Identify and explain elements that manipulate the earth's atmosphere.
  • Describe and explain the origin, composition, structure and behavior of the earth's atmosphere.
  • Define radiation and explain the energy transfer by radiation, conduction and convection.
  • Describe temperature, pressure, density, moisture, wind and circulation as it relates to the earth's atmosphere.
  • Identify what temperature really measures, why pressure decreases with height and why density is often the overlooked crucial factor.
  • Describe the formation cold and warm fronts and their influence on forming cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons.
  • Describe the major cloud types, how they are classified and the concepts of stability and buoyancy.
  • Identify four major air mass categories.
  • Explain the impact that people have on the atmospheric environment.
  • Give examples of the importance of meteorological events and their significance in affecting human lives.
  • Describe the process of weather forecasting.

 
General Earth Science   (EAS-101)   3 credits  
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Course Description
In General Earth Science students discover what Earth is made of, what its history has been, and "how it works." The course explains what went into making our planet as well as how it has changed and transformed in the 13.7 billion years since the Big Bang. Students will be introduced to Earth's structure, the elements that make it up, and such by-products of the planet's ceaseless activity as earthquakes and volcanoes. The course also covers Earth's oceans as well as its atmosphere and climate. Course content is drawn from the Teaching Company's course "How the Earth Works" presented by Dr. Michael E. Wysession.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Explain the age of Earth and methods used to decipher Earth history.
  • Discuss the basic structure of Earth's interior and how different layers are identified using seismic waves.
  • Explain plate tectonics and its importance to Earth's history and features.
  • Describe the materials of Earth (rocks, minerals, magma) and how they are formed.
  • Describe types of volcanoes and how they form.
  • Explain why earthquakes happen and how they are measured.
  • Describe major seafloor features.
  • Explain the processes that form mountains.
  • Describe the hydrologic cycle and the major ocean current systems and their impact on climate.
  • Explain the structure and composition of the atmosphere and atmospheric characteristics such as precipitation and temperature.
  • Discuss regional and global weather patterns and the formation of weather phenomena.
  • Describe the classification of climates and discuss human influence upon and natural variation in climate patterns.
  • Explain the characteristics of our solar system.

 
Satellite Meteorology   (EAS-334)   3 credits  
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Course Description
Reviews the theory and practice of observing the atmosphere using satellite-borne instrumentation; applications include weather analysis and forecasting using visible and infrared images, and the measurement of basic atmospheric variables such as temperature, moisture, wind and precipitation.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Demonstrate understanding of the EM spectrum, the application and effects of Planks Law and Rayleigh Scattering, instrumentation, resolution and image enhancement techniques.
  • Describe how images reveal specific features and demonstrate ability to interpret basic features (e.g. fogs, fires, dust, pollution and the properties of various cloud types.
  • Interpret images for frontal analysis, pre-frontal conditions and specific storm types.
  • Reveal knowledge of specific sources of images including current Geostationary Satellites, Polar Orbiting Satellites, etc. and their specific uses.

 
Weather Systems   (EAS-430)   3 credits  
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Course Description
Applied dynamics of the atmosphere beginning with the basic geographic distribution of radiation and the resulting pressure systems, students will examine the formation and movement of weather systems at both the synoptic and mesoscale.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Describe the development of tropical and extratropical cyclogenesis, travel patterns and eventual demise.
  • Explain the processes of atmospheric motion at various levels, including the balancing of geostrophic winds.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the nature of, formation, influence and movement of the jet stream.
  • Illustrate how these forces both produce and are products of broader patterns of circulation in the atmosphere.
  • Examine the mechanics of smaller scale phenomena, (squall lie storms, local winds, and convection.

 
Fire Department Operations in Catastrophes   (FIS-481)   3 credits  
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Course Description
Course covers the extensive aspects of damage, problems, and issues involved with catastrophic disasters. Special consideration is given to the effect of these conditions on fire unit's functions. In addition, the course views carefully the command and control of fire service operations within an incident Command System Structure.

Learning Outcomes
Through the Portfolio Assessment process, students will demonstrate that they can appropriately address the following outcomes:

  • Explain the planning, staffing, resources and assignments prior to a catastrophic event
  • Discuss assistance available locally and from within a broader region and out of state
  • Describe the early warning notification, evacuation considerations, dispatch policy and weather service updates
  • Examine shift management, accommodations and food procurement for long term operations
  • Discuss special concerns and recent events involving natural and man-made disasters
  • Describe the implementation of the Incident Command System and Unified Command Issues
  • Examine the coordination with Emergency Operations Centers
  • Discuss the use of community emergency response teams
  • Explain the support to personnel and personnel safety during catastrophic events
  • Describe accountability, rapid intervention teams and rehab during major disasters
  • Review a recent event as a case study

 
Courses 1-8 of 8