T. A.
MARRYSHOW COMMUNITY COLLEGE
SCHOOL OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE TITLE: Climate, Vegetation and Soils
COURSE NUMBER: GEO 241
SEMESTER CREDIT HOUR: 3
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to the factors affecting the receipt of solar radiation on the
earth’s surface, as well as the factors influencing atmospheric circulation. It also teaches students
about the conditions influencing and resulting from moisture in the atmosphere as well as
explaining weather systems and their associated conditions. Students are also exposed the
distribution and the characteristics of the major types of vegetation and the interrelationships
among climate, soil, vegetation and human activities.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
1. Understanding the principles governing climate and weather systems, the development
of vegetation and soil.
2. Develop appropriate skills and techniques in Geography.
3. Apply appropriate investigative and practical techniques.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
Students shall be able to:
1. Explain the factors affecting the receipt of solar radiation.
2. Explain the factors influencing atmospheric circulation.
3. Explain the conditions influencing and resulting from moisture in the atmosphere.
4. Explain weather systems and their associated conditions.
5. Analyze climate change and global warming.
6. Explain microclimates and the formation of local winds and fogs in mountains and
valleys.
7. Explain the distribution and the characteristics of the major types of vegetation.
8. Explain soil formation, soil types, soil erosion and conservation.
9. Explain the interrelationships among climate, soil, vegetation and human activities.
10. Use topographical maps to analyze the distribution of vegetation.
11. Apply appropriate investigative and practical techniques.
CONTENT:
Atmosphere and Weather Systems
i. Global heat budget, including long and short wave radiation, albedo.
ii. Global surface and upper wind circulation, including jet streams, Rossby waves.
iii. Global patterns of vertical and horizontal temperature and pressure variations.
iv. Atmospheric humidity (absolute and relative humidity).
v. Condensation, types of precipitation, types of rainfall and mechanisms of raindrop
formation.
vi. Lapse rates.
vii. Weather conditions resulting from atmospheric stability, instability and conditional
instability.
viii. Development of high and low pressure systems: anticyclones, depressions, hurricanes,
Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and weather conditions associated with weather
systems, air masses and fronts.
ix. Interpretation of synoptic charts.
x. Long and short-term climate change, global warming – causes, effects, solutions.
xi. The concept of microclimates.
xii. Urban, rural and mountain microclimates.
Activities:
Visit to the meteorological station M.B.I.A
Resource Personnel from NADMA
Vegetation Types
i. The distribution and characteristics of tropical rainforest, tropical grasslands, temperate
grasslands, northern coniferous forests.
ii. The relationships between vegetation types and climate and human factors.
iii. The opportunities and problems associated with the development of the tropical rain
forests.
iv. Vegetation studies using quadrants and transects.
v. Variations in vegetation in response to differences in rock type, altitude, slope angle and
drainage in a local area.
Soil Formation and Soil Conservation
i. The nature and properties of soil: soil profile, texture, structure, organic matter content,
water, air.
ii. Processes of soil formation, including weathering, leaching.
iii. The interrelationships among parent material, climate, vegetation, topography, human
activity and time on soil formation.
iv. The formation and characteristics of the soil types which develop under tropical
rainforest and temperate grasslands.
v. The study of soil horizons in the field.
vi. Soil erosion and effectiveness of soil conservation methods, including agro-forestry. Cite
specific examples.
Activities:
Field trip from Fort Jeudy to Grand Etang to look at climate, soil and vegetation – how
vegetation changes with climate.
Examine soil profile on a slope.
Visit to Belmont Estate
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Illustrate explanations
Demonstrations
Display of photographic materials and maps
Events
Research
Field Trips
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL:
Text books, photographs, newspaper clippings, videos, etc.
ASSESSMENT:
Course work: 40%
Quizzes: 15%
Assignments: 10%
Presentation/Group project: 15%
Final exam 60%
REQUIRED TEXT:
Waugh, D. Geography - An Integrated Approach, London: Nelson, 2000.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:
i. O’Hare, G. Soils, Vegetation and Ecosystem, Edingburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1999.
ii. O’Hare, G. and Sweeney, J. The Atmospheric System, Edingburg: Oliver and Boyd,
1986.
iii. Park, C. Tropical Rainforest, London: Routledge, 1992.
