Meteorology Courses

With links to recent syllabi
Photo: Clouds from Mt. Washington.

11:670:101 Introduction to Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructors
Krasting, Stern, Trabachino
Description
Overview of current weather maps; structure of the atmosphere and the role of moisture in the development of dew, clouds, and precipitation; air masses, fronts, cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Elements of weather forecasting, instrumentation and communication. This course satisfies the SAS Natural Sciences [NS] and Information Technology and Research [ITR] requirements, and the SEBS Natural Sciences [NS - Physical] and Information Technology and Research [ITR] requirements.

11:670:102 Introduction to Climate Science

Credits
3
Instructor
Broccoli
Description
Major climatic controls; climatic classifications and comparisons of major climatic types; an overview of current climate issues such as global warming and El Niño; overview of the global climate. This course satisfies the SAS Natural Sciences [NS] requirement, and the SEBS Natural Sciences [NS - Environmental] requirements.

11:670:111–112 Weather, Climate, and Television I, II

Credits
1.5, 1.5
Instructors
Bridges, Decker
Corequisite
11:670:101 (for 111)
Prerequisite
11:670:111 (for 112)
Description
Provides a theoretical foundation of television broadcasting and meteorology to supplement the hands-on television experience gained from the WeatherWatcher Living-Learning Community. By examining the history and characteristics of television, critical analyses of news and weather-related programming, and special topics pertaining to meteorology, students will gain a rounded understanding of the medium and its impact on the field of meteorology and broadcasting. This WeatherWatcher Living-Learning Community academic course is required of all first-year residents.

11:670:201 Elements of Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructors
Arnesen, Dooley
Description
Overview of current weather maps; structure of the atmosphere and the role of moisture in the development of dew, clouds, and precipitation; air masses, fronts, cyclones, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Elements of weather forecasting, instrumentation and communication. This course satisfies the SAS Natural Sciences [NS] and Information Technology and Research [ITR] requirements.

11:670:202 Elements of Climatology

Credits
3
Instructor
Arnesen
Description
Major climatic controls; climatic classifications and comparisons of major climatic types; an overview of current climate issues such as global warming and El Niño; overview of the global climate. This course satisfies the SAS Natural Sciences [NS] requirement.

11:670:211 Meteorological Analysis

Credits
3
Instructor
Decker
Pre/Corequisite
11:670:101 or 201
Description
Surface observation codes. Preparation of surface, upper air, and sounding charts. Forecast guidance, weather map interpretation, and preparation of weather forecasts. Map discussions.

11:670:212 Computational Methods for Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructors
Curchitser, Decker
Prerequisite
11:670:211 or permission of instructor
Description
Introduction to the basic concepts of programming and computation for meteorology and earth science students. Elements of compiled and interpreted languages. Development of skills necessary for the reading, analyzing, and plotting of meteorological and climatic data.

11:670:323 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere

Credits
3
Instructor
Lintner, Robock
Prerequisites
01:640:152; 11:750:194 or 11:750:204
Description
Thermodynamics of the atmosphere; energy conservation; ideal gas law; water and its transformations; moist air; aerosols; hydrostatic stability and convection; vertical motion; cloud formation; precipitation.

11:670:324 Dynamics of the Atmosphere

Credits
3
Instructor
Broccoli, Lintner
Prerequisites
01:640:251; 11:670:323
Description
Hydrodynamics of the atmosphere; equations of motion on rotating earth; vorticity, potential vorticity, and divergence; boundary layer dynamics.

11:670:325 Special Topics in Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructor
Staff
Prerequisite
Permission of instructor.
Description
Special courses taught on a one-time basis to meet specific needs.

11:670:334 Severe Weather Forecasting Field Trip

Credits
3
Instructor
Decker
Prerequisites
(11:670:210 or 11:670:211) and permission of instructor.
Description
Techniques for the forecasting and safe observation of severe convection; case study analysis of observed events. Two-week field trip required.

11:670:414 Hydrological Processes

Credits
3
Instructor
Ying Fan Reinfelder
Prerequisites
01:640:151; 01:750:194 or equivalent
Description
Physical processes governing the occurrence and movement of water through the atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. Techniques for collecting and analyzing hydrologic data and predicting the hydrologic states of particular systems.

11:670:431 Physical Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructor
Mark Miller
Prerequisites
01:640:251; 11:670:323
Description
Atmospheric optics; atmospheric radiation and applications to climate; atmospheric convection; cloud and precipitation formation; turbulence and boundary layer processes; atmospheric electricity.

11:670:433 Weather Analysis and Forecasting I: Synoptic Meteorology

Credits
4
Instructor
Decker
Prerequisites
11:670:210 or 11:670:211; 11:670:324
Description
Dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere applied to current weather situations and case studies. Cyclone and frontal theory, jet streams, and quasi-geostrophic diagnostics. Weather discussions, map analysis, and forecast preparation. Lecture and Laboratory.

11:670:434 Weather Analysis and Forecasting II: Mesoscale Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructor
Decker
Prerequisite
11:670:433
Description
Real-time analysis and nowcasting of mesoscale atmospheric phenomena, including heavy snow, cold-air damming, severe weather, and flash floods. Case studies and weather discussions. Laboratory.

11:670:444 Tropical Meteorology

Credits
3
Instructor
Lintner
Prerequisite
11:670:324
Description
The dynamics and thermodynamics of the tropics, including regional and large-scale tropical circulations and their role in the global general circulation, tropical wave dynamics, convection and convective systems, synoptic, intraseasonal, and seasonal variability; monsoons, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation, tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

11:670:451 Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere

Credits
3
Instructors
Mark Miller, James Miller, Wilkin
Prerequisites
01:640:152; 11:750:194 or equivalent
Description
Methods, instruments, and their application to observations of ocean and atmosphere. Sensing of oceanic parameters such as temperature, salinity, currents, sea state, turbidity and pollutants.

11:670:453 Air Quality Modeling

Credits
3
Instructor
Carlton
Prerequisites
01:640:251 and (01:160:160 or 01:160:162 or ((01:160:159 or 01:160:161) and 11:670:212))
Description
A theoretical foundation to understand the principles and governing equations regarding chemical transformation and transport of atmospheric pollution; introduction to and practice in computer programming and numerical techniques as used in approaches to study the atmosphere.

11:670:461 Climate Dynamics

Credits
3
Instructor
Robock
Prerequisites
11:670:324; 11:670:431
Description
The climate system and how it is changing due to natural and human causes, including past climate variations, El Niño, global warming, climate modeling, nuclear winter, mitigation options, and geoengineering.

11:670:493 & 11:670:494 Research Problems in Meteorology

Credits
By arrangement
Instructor
Staff
Prerequisite
Permission of instructor.
Description
Independent study on atmospheric projects. Topic and requirements to be determined individually with the supervising instructor.