•  
  •  
 

Article Title

Introducing the Concept of the “Causal Continuum” in Introductory Weather and Climate Courses

Abstract

In any introductory meteorology, climatology, Earth science, or physical geography course, students will likely gain a much greater understanding of the weather and/ or climate material if their course instruction is effectively rooted within the framework of why weather occurs and why climates exist. Indeed, without an early understanding of why weather even occurs, much of what is taught within an introductory course will likely never be fully grasped or appreciated by students. Along those lines, it should be extremely beneficial to include an explicit discussion of what is here termed the “causal continuum”, in the early portion of such an introductory course. Moreover, the causal continuum should preferably be repeatedly referred to throughout much of the course. I have certainly found this to be beneficial in my own introductory courses.