I took this course thinking it was going to be a breeze. There were no tests, quizzes, or even a final. However, there are weekly 1 page essays and 1 final 10 page research paper. Turco is one of THE MOST BORING professors I have had to endure throughout my stay here at UCLA. I have never seen so many students asleep in such a small class (about 40 kids). He takes attendance, but this doesn't factor into your grade, but in my opinion it factors into how much he likes you and the grades he gives you on the essays. These page papers he assigns are always assigned on Thursday, due on Friday by 5 (I think it's his cruel way of trying to punish those students that go out Thursday nights). Not to mention he takes off fraction of points without explanation (3.2/5, 4.7/5, etc). He makes lengthy power point presentations, but 9 out of 10 lectures, he only stays on about 1 or 2 slides and just talks in circles. He knows he's a big shot in the atmospheric science realm and he doesn't hesitate to show it with his hauty attitude and demeanor during lecture and OH. Take this class if you don't mind writing a research paper and don't mind being put to sleep during lectures.