Meteorology 302.01, Spring 2004
Class Notes for March 8, 2004

Steven Loftus & Lenin Parrales

Assignments

-Start reading Vazquez

-Reading schedule posted under Assignments & Announcements

-Writing assignment Due Friday 3/19/04

>Explain how characters apply the Scientific Method, this isn’t a book report, don’t summarize the stories.

>Everyone must use title and format given on class website.

>References are provided on class site, but must be in paper.

Scientific Method

-Observed phenomenon are often the product of many factors, scientists should be aware that there are probably multiple causes for every effect.

-KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid. The explanation with the fewest independent assumptions is usually the best one.

>Science does not invalidate or question outside belief systems (ie: religious beliefs) because their claims are outside the scope of Science, they cannot be tested.

-Modern Science does not pretend to provide absolute truths, only likely explanations that can be verified via experimentation or observation.

>Science can only prove affirmative, it cannot disprove something directly. Therefore, “prove I’m wrong” is not a valid scientific argument.

>One must gather evidence to prove one’s theories, not posit and idea and expect others to do the leg work.

-One of the basic ideas of Science is that the Laws of Nature are constant in all times and places, so the same laws of physics/thermodynamics/etc. can be applied as easily on the other end of the universe as they can on earth.

-Scientific Hierarchies:

>Observation>Perception of Patterns>Rule/Hypothesis>Theory

>Observations>Patterns>Principles>Laws>Theories>Higher Order Theories

Peer Review Process

-It is a researcher’s responsibility to be familiar with all previous work done on his/her research topic in order to make sure they are adding to the knowledge base rather than repeating old information.

-The peer review process ensures that new research is in fact new, that it is repeatable, that the Scientific method was employed correctly, and that the results have been analyzed logically.

Journal Submission Process:

1: Referee examines an article make sure it is correctly formatted, free of spelling/grammar errors, and has no obvious logical or scientific problems.

2:The paper is sent anonymously to 3 or more experts in the field that each return one of three decisions: Publish, Publish with revision (revisions included), or reject.

3: Author must respond to each and every criticism and revision in a satisfactory manner (ie: using scientific evidence to prove his/her arguments).

-Scientists who ignore or circumvent the peer review process, often for monetary gain, are called “Charlatans.”

Rules Governing Wind Movement

At the earth’s surface air flows counter-clockwise and into low pressure areas (Cyclones) and clockwise and away from high pressure areas (anti-cyclones). The greater the difference in pressure, the greater the wind velocity.

Above the Earth’s surface wind blows from high to low pressure, however, the increased coreollis effect due to increased speed causes the wind to blow parallel to isobars rather than perpendicular to them.