Synoptic Meteorology

Next offering – Fall 2024 

UNDERGRAD – MET4500C

GRAD – GEO6938 (SPECIAL TOPICS)

Student profile: 

  • This course is a required course for anyone pursuing a career in meteorology, or thinking of doing so. It is NOT an introductory course.
  • Students must be at junior, senior, or graduate level, and/or have completed MET3503 (Weather and Forecasting) or a similar MET course at the 300 level (Atmos. Dynamics will count but a course pre-req waiver will be required for now).
  • Course pre-reqs are technically MET3503, MAC2312, CHM 2045, PHYS2048/L. Students should have taken MET3503 or Dynamics, and have a math and physics background equivalent to introductory Calculus (e.g. MAC2311). Co-req or pre-req of  PHYS2048 with Lab is preferred. Because the listed pre-reqs differ from those I will accept, please contact me to get a waiver!  We will be employing complex equations in this class, however we will not be deriving these equations and instead concentrating on what they tell us about the workings of the atmosphere. If you do not think you meet these requirements but are interested in the course, please contact me.
  • Ability to critically evaluate and synthesize material, or a desire to improve those skills

Course required text

  • Midlatitude Synoptic Meteorology – Dynamics, Analysis and Forecasting. Gary Lackmann, second edition. ISBN 978-1-878220-10-3 https://bookstore.ametsoc.org/catalog/book/midlatitude-synoptic-meteorology
  • The lab section will be adapted from the accompanying Synoptic Dynamic lab book from the same author, possession of the lab book is recommended but not required as we may depart from it at times.
  • Students should have a laptop computer.

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  •  Identify and describe fundamental atmospheric processes that create temperature change, vertical motions and precipitation, the development and decay of mid-latitude storms, fronts, and their associated hazards.
  • Apply the quasi-geostrophic (QG) and potential vorticity (PV) frameworks for synoptic systems.
  • Describe orally and in writing current and forecast synoptic-scale weather patterns based on their critical evaluation of multi-platform meteorological data (e.g., observations, models, satellite, radar etc.).

Course topics

  • Weeks 1 & 2: Background and basics. Introduction to global and U.S. meteorological observations and models. Fundamental equations.
  • Weeks 3 & 4: Hand-analysis and model-analysis of relevant maps. Quasi-geostropic framework.
  • Weeks 5 & 6: Potential vorticity framework & isentropic analysis
  • Week 7: Other measurements & forecasting
  • Week 8-10: Mid-latitude storms – Bergen cyclone model, development processes, conveyor belts, intensification mechanisms, Baroclinic instability
  • Weeks 11 & 12: Weather Fronts – development and lifecycles
  • Week 13-15: Winter and spring storms, forecasting & impacts, final project presentations.
  • Week 16: Final exam

Exam and Assessment Breakdown (tentative):

  • Two exams (25% of grade) – one midterm (10%), one final (15%)
  • Participation (10% of grade). Semester-long weather forecasting challenge and/or online discussions based on textbook readings or journal articles. One or two required readings per week.
  • Lab exercises (40% of grade), 1 lab weekly. Includes short homework-style tasks, periodic weather briefings, analysis of real-time events through current meteorological observations and models.
  • Project & presentation (15% of grade). A short scientific paper on the evolution of a historical weather event. Students will use model and observation archives along with peer-reviewed literature, and theory from the lectures & textbook.
  • Homework (10% of grade). Mixture of short answer and auto graded Canvas quizzes, 4-6 total.

Caveat

  • This course is associated with the developing meteorology major at UF, but at this time a functional major is not operating. Therefore, while this course may appeal to students in geography, physics, engineering, and the natural sciences, the course may not run unless there is suitable enrollment. If you are interested, and at the occasion of next offering, please do enroll so that we can get a sense of headcount, and contact me if you have questions.
  • Keep this page handy as I will post updates here.