Undergraduate Course: Meteorology: Weather and Climate (METE08002)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Meteorology |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | An introduction to large-scale weather systems and climate processes. Radiation and climate, role of the oceans, greenhouse effect, atmospheric dynamics, global circulation, thunderstorms, hurricanes, mid-latitude weather systems, weather and climate forecasting. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
|
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Class Delivery Information |
1.5 hour laboratory or tutorial class each week (choice of times), in weeks 3-11. In one session in weeks 8 and 9 half the students will do a lab from 3-4.30 (Mondays & Thursdays) or 11:-12:30 (Tuesdays) with the remainder doing a lab at the normal time. Students will be assigned to groups for this exercise alone to avoid clashes with any other classes they might have." |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 31,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 5,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
148 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course the student will:
- Have a broad knowledge of the main areas of large-scale Meteorology
- Be able to describe:
- The components of the climate system and understand how these interact with each other
- The global radiation balance and the physics underlying the greenhouse effect
- Display a basic understanding of the dynamics of the atmosphere and its interaction with the underlying ocean and land
- Be able to apply knowledge of the forces acting on the atmosphere to quantitatively interpret the atmospheric circulation
- The atmospheric structure of tropical cyclones
- The structure and air motions in mid-latitude cyclones, anticyclones and other types of low pressure systems
- Be able to explain modern approaches to weather and climate forecasting
- Be aware of a range of standard applications used in meteorology to process and obtain data
- Be able to demonstrate their understanding through degree exam and course work. |
Assessment Information
Coursework 30%
Degree exam 70% |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
The basic text for the course is 'Meteorology Today' (10th edition) by C. Donald Ahrens, Brooks/Cole Publishing, however the latest edition has become too expensive to buy. Some copies from members of last year's class may be available for purchase. Earlier editions of this book (especially the 8th and 9th editions) are quite satisfactory. For the less mathematical parts of the course: Introducing Meteorology: A Guide to Weather (Jon Shonk) £8.99 is a good read. 'Atmospheric Science' (2nd edition) by Wallace and Hobbs £47 (from Blackwells) is also useful and is more mathematical than Ahrens. |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ruth Doherty
Tel: (0131 6)50 6759
Email: ruth.doherty@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Meredith Corey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: meredith.corey@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2013 The University of Edinburgh - 13 January 2014 4:43 am
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