Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y N
Course Code PHYS1056
Date2023/09/24 21:14
Enquiry for Course Details
   <<< This course is not offered in 2023 - 2024. Course details are subject to change. >>>
PHYS1056 Weather, climate and climate change (6 credits) Academic Year 2023
Offering Department Physics Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Dr F C C Ling, Physics < ccling@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr F C C Ling,Physics)
(Mr H W Tong,Hong Kong Observatory)
(Mr P Cheung,Hong Kong Observatory)
(Mr W K Wong,Hong Kong Observatory)
Course Objectives Weather and climate play an important role in human activities and history.  In this course, we shall introduce to students the fundamentals of weather, climate and climate changes, to arouse their interests in the scientific and technological advancements.
Course Contents & Topics The course will encompass topics on: basic physical principles on weather phenomena like: wind, temperature, humidity, cold/warm fronts, thunderstorms and tropical cyclones; introductory weather analysis, forecast and climate. Through real life examples, students will get familiarized with the weather/climate science and interpretation of meteorological information, climatology and climate change.
Experts from the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) will participate in the course to cover aspects on daily weather forecasts, public weather services, local severe weather phenomena, tropical cyclones, climatology of Hong Kong, and climate change.  Tentatively, there will be visit to the HKO to study the meteorological facilities and understand the operational activities on weather and climate.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 recall the basic principles of weather and climate
CLO 2 apply the principles to interpret weather / climate information, for example from the HKO web site, internet or media
CLO 3 identify and explain the differences of weather and climate in Hong Kong as compared to other parts of the world
CLO 4 explain the basic causes of climate change and its potential impacts
CLO 5 describe and discuss the daily operational activities in the HKO
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 NIL
Course to PLO Mapping
Offer in 2023 - 2024 N        To be confirmed Examination To be confirmed
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 80
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 25 CLO 1,2,3,4,5
Examination 2-hour written exam 50 CLO 1,3,4,5
Test 25 CLO 1,3,4,5
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Lecture notes provided by Course Coordinator
Frederick Lutgens and Edward Tarbuck: The Atmosphere (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2013)
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information NIL
Back  /  Home