You can survive without it, but you will have to copy down all the materials during the lecture periods, I will be progressing at a speed which assumes that you have the package. You may be able to pick one of these up more cheaply at a used book store. Notes will probably target this course because of the number of students enrolled. They are published after the lecture material is completed and thus will not assist you during the course of lectures. World Climates 211-243.
All numbers are pages from the text.