AMS Climate Studies is an introductory climate science course provided by the American Meteorological Society to undergraduate institutions for local offering. The course is prepared by meteorologists and climatologists nationally recognized in atmospheric science education. Development for this course was supported, in part, by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Students are introduced to the many elements of Earth's climate system.
>>Go to the Options for Using Course Materials page to learn more.
AMS Climate Studies can be offered by experienced science faculty or those new to teaching climatology. Collegial assistance is available to all new instructors.
We have large numbers of atmospheric scientists, geographers, geologists, and physicists successfully offering the course, as well as those from disciplines such as engineering and chemistry.
During course implementation and instruction, collegial assistance is available from faculty members who have already offered AMS Climate Studies. Also, AMS science educators will answer any questions on all aspects of course delivery and content. This course enables faculty members to expand and/or update their curriculum and join the ranks of colleagues teaching with the latest technology.
Textbook - The full-color, hardcover, 15 chapter Climate Studies: Introduction to Climate Science text covers the fundamental principles in understanding Earth's climate system as a whole. The primary author of the text is Dr. Joseph M. Moran (University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and Associate Director, AMS Education Program), author of several leading meteorology, Earth and environmental science texts at the introductory college level. The textbook contains ten Review and ten Critical Thinking Questions per chapter.
At the instructor's option, the Climate Studies textbook may be used as part of the turnkey AMS Climate Studies course package (including the Investigations Manual and Course Website) or by itself. Textbook-Only users have access to a special Internet website that delivers the Daily Weather Summary, current climatological products, and Math Skills applications. A license is not required for this text-only option.
>>Go to the Climate Studies Textbook page to view the table of contents and a sample chapter.
Investigations Manual - A set of student learning
investigations is coordinated with the text chapters. Each investigation (two
per week) contains Introduction and Applications sections. The
investigation can be completed using the two sections in the Manual or by using
the Introduction section plus Current Climate Studies available on the
Course Website. The Manual Applications section and Current Climate
Studies are similar in format, topic, and length. Investigations lead the
student through analysis and interpretation of current climatological data.
The Investigations Manual is designed to function as a self-contained course
for those wishing to have all course material in their hands before the course
starts, those wanting to preload all course material into their institution's
e-learning course management system at the beginning of each term and/or those
whose academic calendars do not match the AMS Climate Studies delivery
schedule.
Learning investigations lead the student through the analysis and
interpretation of real-world climatological data. The weekly
investigations are prepared by Dr. Robert S. Weinbeck (State University of New
York - Brockport and AMS Education Program), and Dr. Ira W. Geer (Senior
Education Fellow, AMS Education Program). Both have extensive experience
teaching introductory meteorology courses and conducting NSF- and NOAA-funded
faculty and teacher enhancement projects.
>>Go to the Climate Studies Investigations Manual page to to view the list of investigations and sample activities.
Course Website -
The AMS Climate Studies Course Website includes the delivery of Current Climate Studies, weekly Math Skills, current weather maps,
visible, infrared, and water vapor satellite imagery, composite radar displays,
and surface and upper-air data, plus forecast maps for the U.S. and southern
Canada. Meteorological data, formatted and delivered via NOAA's National
Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are updated hourly, 24 hours
a day, and seven days a week, year-round!
To access the Course Website, a Login ID and Password are
required by all licensed students and faculty. A special site is available for
all faculty considering this course offering, where the course website and
course delivery mechanisms may be previewed. Go to the Course Website Preview to view sample of the website components described below.
Faculty Resource CD and Website- The CD contains the faculty
manual, Investigations Manual answer forms compatible with course management
systems, test bank questions, and textbook images. The faculty manual describes
the course and its components and contains suggestions for course
implementation in a variety of classroom settings. Included for each text
chapter is an outline, summary, and learning objectives.
The CD Investigations Manual answer forms are files compatible with
Respondus, test-generating
software for which your institution may have a license. This program opens
formatted files and converts them to various course management system files.
Test bank questions are available in a variety of formats, including Microsoft
Word, text, PDF, and Respondus-compatible files. The CD also contains
Investigations Manual answer forms and keys in Word, text, and PDF formats, and
the electronic versions of textbook chapter Review and Critical Thinking
Questions found in the textbook.
A secure faculty website delivers answers to chapter Review and Critical
Thinking, Investigations Manual, Current Climate Studies, and Math
Skills questions. The website includes Respondus-formatted answer forms for
Current Climate Studies.
The real-world case studies in the Applications section of the Investigations Manual allow the combination of manual and textbook to function as a full course. Many institutions offering the course during fall and spring semesters may choose to use the Introduction section of the Manual investigations with Current Climate Studies on the course website to expand on important concepts using current or recent weather data.
Current Climate Studies are delivered on a weekly schedule. During fall and spring semesters, Current Climate Studies files accumulate in the "Archives" section of the course website as the semester progresses. "Current Climate Studies" activities for Chapter 13, 14, and 15, designed for use at any point during the course, are updated at the beginning of each fall semester and available year-round. Current Climate Studies answer keys and Respondus-compatible files will be posted to the faculty website on the same schedule.
The Investigations Manual, Current Climate Studies learning investigations, and test banks can be ported into your system’s quizzing function for automated scoring and immediate student feedback. This feature allows for full integration into an e-learning environment. We provide course management system-compatible files in Respondus format, software for which many campuses are licensed.
>>Go to the Course Management System Integration page to learn about the easy three step process for porting our files into your system.
If you would like to use the entire AMS Climate Studies course package, which includes the Textbook, Investigations Manual, and access to our Course and Faculty Websites, your college will need to have a completed Course License on file with the AMS Education Program. The Course License fee (from August 15th to August 14th) is $149 per institution, regardless of number of sections or number of students.
If you would like to use the Textbook-Only Option, a license is not required, but please contact us to request instructor materials.
With an AMS Climate Studies license, your college receives:
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please visit our "Frequently Asked Questions" page or contact us at 1-800-824-0405.
To license the course: