GEOGRAPHY 102
OUR CHANGING ENVIRONMENT: CLIMATE AND ECOSYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION
This course introduces you to the study of climatology and biogeography, two important sub-disciplines of Physical Geography. Climatology is the study of the heat (energy) and moisture states of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Biogeography is the study of the distribution and dynamics of organisms and their environments, and the influential processes.   The objectives of the course are to give you an overview of climatology and biogeography, to introduce and illustrate major concepts, and to prepare you for more advanced courses in both subjects. The topics in this course are important to students interested in the physical sciences and to students who wish to understand the processes underlying many human, social and economic aspects of our environment and natural resources.

HINTS FOR SUCCESS
It is in your best interest to attend class regularly and to participate in class. You are welcome to bring a coffee or snack to keep you going. But turn your cell-phones off, and if you bring your laptop to class with you, please do not IM, chat or surf the web during lectures. It is distracting to the instructor and to the other students.

This course moves quickly through a large amount of material in a short time. Try to keep up with your text readings and address questions you have on the subject matter at the appropriate time rather than waiting until just before the midterm and final for clarification.

COURSE FORMAT
Lectures will follow the Winter/Spring 2011 schedule.  The lectures will introduce and illustrate the major concepts in climatology and biogeography. 

SCHEDULE
Lectures: Section 201 - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday   11:00- 11:50am

Labs: The scheduled laboratory times are opportunities for the students to meet with teaching assistants to get help with the four scheduled assignments.  Attendance is optional.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
"Physical Geography" (5th edition, Canadian Version) by Strahler and Archibold, John Wiley & Sons, Toronto. This textbook is available in the Bookstore or on-line from the publisher at and is the same as the textbook for GEOB103.

You have two options when buying the book:
i ) New paper copy, including access to electronic text.
ii ) Electronic textbook only

Notes: A previous edition is acceptable. If your textbook is in good condition, the UBC Bookstore will buy it back from you at the end of the academic year.


EVALUATION

Final marks in the course are based on your performance in four categories as follows:

Midterm Lecture Exam (Monday, February 17, during lecture) 40%
Assignments (four, 5% each) 20%
Final Lecture Exam (Time/Location TBA) 40%
Total   100%

 

STUDENT RESOURCES AND COMMUNICATION
Office Hours:
Dr. Mike Bovis, 241 Geography, Wed.12:30-1:30 or by appointment mbovis@geog.ubc.ca

Dr. Greg Henry, 231 Geography, Wed. 12:30-1:30 or by appointment greg.henry@geog.ubc.ca

Office Hours, Email and Appointments:
If you have questions pertaining to lecture material we encourage you to come to our office hours or to meet us at the end of class to make an appointment. E-mail should not be used to ask questions about the course materials. 

All questions about missed assignments, missed exams, requests to write an examination in the Disability Resource Centre (DRC), and other practical concerns about the course should be directed to the course instructors by email. Emails will be responded to during business hours only. Again, please place the course number GEOB 102 in the subject line. You are encouraged to get a UBC interchange account, which helps ensure that the email filters do not intercept your message.

Course Website:
The GEOB102 website (http://www.geog.ubc.ca/courses/geob102) contains information on all aspects of the course. It includes partial outlines of lectures (not complete notes) and some of the graphs or diagrams presented in class. You are still required to refer to relevant figures, tables and readings in the textbook and make your own sketches and notes. Answers to lab assignments will be posted weekly. To access any downloadable file you will need a username and password! If you do not have one, please contact the course instructors.


COURSE POLICIES

Policy on assignments. All assignments must be turned in to the Geography office (Room 217) by 4:30 pm on the due date. Emailed assignments will not be accepted. Late assignments will not be accepted without proper documentation. No exceptions will be made.

Policy on missed midterm exams.  One (and ONLY one) makeup exam will be scheduled by the course instructors in the week following the midterm and the lab exams. Only students who have contacted the instructors within 5 days of the missed exam with a valid doctor’s note explaining why they missed the exam will be permitted to write the makeup exam. Without proper documentation (e.g., medical documentation), a missed exam will earn zero points. The final exam is scheduled by UBC; there will be no makeup final exam.

Policy for students representing UBC, BC or Canada at academic or sports events. We fully support students involved with organizations and teams that travel during the semester; however, with this privilege comes additional responsibility. You are responsible for providing formal documentation identifying the organization you represent and potential schedule conflicts with this course. In the event that you are travelling and unable to attend an exam, you must schedule a secondary exam before you depart. Without proper documentation, a missed exam will earn zero points.