If you did not get this announcement/email, make sure you have your Canvas settings set to receive announcements from the course.  Thanks!

December 1

Hi.

This week, in Chapter 8, we look at our local weather – warm air masses, cold air masses, warm fronts, cold fronts, thunderstorms, ice storms, hurricanes and tornadoes.  By integrating what we have been learning about winds, atmospheric moisture and solar energy you will be able to better appreciate the factors that create your daily weather.

We also look at Chapter 9 – water. Water is a precious resource in the ground on which we live. When we have lots of rain, the soil is moist (great for growing things). When the moisture from the atmosphere is insufficient, we have drought. The ground dries out. We will think about the consequences of the annual cycle of precipitation and drying for our local area.

At a global scale, the overuse of groundwater and changing climates (which influences the amount of precipitation and thus groundwater) a region seriously impacts the sustainability of entire populations. If you have traveled in sub-Saharan Africa or the Middle East, for instance, you know that, because of climate change, the deserts are expanding, and millions of people are now living in drought areas that can no longer sustain agriculture. This has serious implications for all of us.

It is one of the “drivers” behind political unrest and violence in several these countries in the news recently, including Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Sudan.

Your Final Exam is Monday, December 15, 1-2:30 pm.  *** IF, AND ONLY IF, YOU ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON DECEMBER 15*** please confirm with me immediately so we can make arrangements. If you are legitimately out of the country, your exam will be ONLINE on December 15, 5 pm PT.  No other accommodations will be possible.  If you do NOT confirm with me, you will be expected to be in person, on campus on December 15, 1 pm.

This week, please:

  1. Read online notes 8 & 9 and the text Chapters 8 & 9.  
  2. Lab 4 is due Tuesday, December 2.  This is a Quiz on Canvas.  You can take as much time as you like; it is open book; but you do have to do it all in one sitting.  Allow about 2 hours for it.
  3. Lab 5 is due Tuesday, December 9. 
  4. Record last week’s reading on Canvas by Tuesday midnight.
  5. Make a contribution to the online discussion forum on Canvas www.canvas.ubc.ca by Saturday midnight. This is a great way to get to know your classmates.  Please do NOT use AI, like ChatGPT.  I want to get to know you and hear your ideas.  Not a computer’s.  A non-personal response is worth “0.”
  6. Your Final Exam is Monday, December 15, 1-2:30 pm.   This is set by the Registrar.  A study guide is here.
    • As per College policy, the exam requires a lock-down browser.
    • Details for the Lock-down browser are on the UBC Canvas site, and here  https://rossway.net/lockdown-browser/.
    • I have posted another one question LOCK-DOWN BROWSER TEST QUIZ so you can test your computer works with the lockdown browser. PLEASE take it.  It will lower your stress to know your computer will work with the lockdown browser.  If you do NOT do the practice quiz, and your exam will not work with the browser, you will receive ‘0’ for the exam.
    • The examwill be monitored by Zoom. Zoom link: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/67213918546?pwd=abSAYcv5hPCragNVH7uGLfUq5f9KPd.1    Passcode: 2025
    • You will need a second device for Zoom (the lock-down browser will NOT allow you to use the same computer you are using for the exam).
    • Please log into the Zoom call by 6:55 pm at the latest. Just as you would be in the exam room for an in-person exam at least 5-minutes early, please be a few minutes early for our exam.
    • We will verify your ID/identity as we did on the midterm.
    • Your camera MUST show YOU AND YOUR WORKSPACE. I will ask you to show me your surroundings periodically during the exam.
    • Any evidence of cheating will result in “0” on the exam and an “F” in the course
  1. *** IF, AND ONLY IF, YOU ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY ON DECEMBER 15*** please confirm with me immediately so we can make arrangements. Your exam will be ONLINE on December 15, 5 pm PT.  No other accommodations will be possible.  If you do NOT confirm with me, you will be expected to be in person, on campus on December 15.

If you have any questions, get in touch with me right away.  Email works best … bmartin@corpuschristi.ca.

Bruce Martin, Ph.D

College Professor, Geography