METL 421 - Synoptic Meteorology Lab
This class has three goals:
Grading:
During the semester, we expect 20-minute presentations from the following organizations: National Weather Service Lake Charles; Hurricane Research Division; National Hurricane Center; different units from the Environmental Modeling Center; Weatherflow; Barons Weather Services; Liquid Robotics; WorldWinds; Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere; different university graduate programs; and the Development Testbed Center. It is important to explore all your options and interests. The majority of future employment opportunities in meteorology will be in the private sector.
Class lecture schedule (additional material related to guest lectures or current weather events will also be included):
Week Aug 22: Tropical cyclone climatology; tropical cyclone structure
Week Aug 29: Tropical cyclone forecast products; assigned reading and videos due to student conference travel
Weeks Sep 5 and 12: Tropical cyclone thermodynamics and dynamics; genesis, intensity, track
Week Sep 19: Storm surge
Week Sep 26: Exam 1; Ocean wave forecasting; ocean tides
Week Oct 3: Streamline analysis; interpolation
Weeks Oct 10 and 17: Applications of dynamics to analysis (thermal wind, geostrophic wind, advection)
Week Oct 24: Model Output Statistics (MOS) and regression
Week Oct 31 and Nov 7: Finite difference and numerical solutions; application to advection
Week Nov. 14: 1-D modeling with advection process; data assimilation
Weeks of Nov 21 and 28: Exam 2; Model validation; limits to predictability; atmospheric chaos; ensemble models
This class has three goals:
- Attainment of meteorology analysis skills through current weather events, which will include map discussions. During the Atlantic hurricane season, this will include discussions led by the Hurricane Research Division.
- Training in meteorology tools, analysis, and forecast techniques, including tropical cyclones.
- Guest lectures from the government and private sector.
Grading:
- 40% assignments
- 20% two take-home exams (40% total)
- 10% student-driven map discussions
- 10% WxChallenge (www.wxchallenge.com)
During the semester, we expect 20-minute presentations from the following organizations: National Weather Service Lake Charles; Hurricane Research Division; National Hurricane Center; different units from the Environmental Modeling Center; Weatherflow; Barons Weather Services; Liquid Robotics; WorldWinds; Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere; different university graduate programs; and the Development Testbed Center. It is important to explore all your options and interests. The majority of future employment opportunities in meteorology will be in the private sector.
Class lecture schedule (additional material related to guest lectures or current weather events will also be included):
Week Aug 22: Tropical cyclone climatology; tropical cyclone structure
Week Aug 29: Tropical cyclone forecast products; assigned reading and videos due to student conference travel
Weeks Sep 5 and 12: Tropical cyclone thermodynamics and dynamics; genesis, intensity, track
Week Sep 19: Storm surge
Week Sep 26: Exam 1; Ocean wave forecasting; ocean tides
Week Oct 3: Streamline analysis; interpolation
Weeks Oct 10 and 17: Applications of dynamics to analysis (thermal wind, geostrophic wind, advection)
Week Oct 24: Model Output Statistics (MOS) and regression
Week Oct 31 and Nov 7: Finite difference and numerical solutions; application to advection
Week Nov. 14: 1-D modeling with advection process; data assimilation
Weeks of Nov 21 and 28: Exam 2; Model validation; limits to predictability; atmospheric chaos; ensemble models