METO 112 Meteorology Laboratory

In this laboratory course, students will analyze basic meteorological data to study atmospheric phenomena. The construction and analysis of weather maps will be used with an emphasis on weather forecasting.

Credits

1

Prerequisite

Pre- or corequisite: METO 111

Hours Weekly

2 hours lab weekly

Course Objectives

1. 1. Communicate fundamental concepts in meteorology using appropriate vocabulary, units,
   symbols, and notations, including the basic coding and depiction of meteorological
   information on a weather map, using real-time data.
2. 2. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
   solve quantitative problems pertaining to, but not limited to, measurement, unit conversion,
   gas laws, density and buoyancy, heat transfer, air pressure, adiabatic heating and cooling,
   wind chill, and weather forecasting.
3. 3. Assess the status of the weather at a given location, analyzing temperature, pressure,
   precipitation, dew point, and relative humidity data, to include interpreting METAR/station
   code, basic isopleths, depictions of pressure systems, and fronts, for surface as well as
   upper air maps.
4. 4. Balance a basic earth’s heat budget and perform basic stability exercises to determine
   conditional instability, using the physical concepts of density/buoyancy, stability, heat
   transfer, air pressure, adiabatic cooling and heating, relative humidity, and dewpoint.
5. 5. Discriminate the steps of cyclogenesis, while examining weather maps from the surface and
   upper air, to diagnose mid-latitude low pressure formation and strengthening, as well as to
   determine current and forecasted weather conditions associated with these lows.
6. 6. Assess the meaning, utility, and accuracy of forecasts by understanding the basic concept of
   weather forecasting and utilizing online-based weather resources and forecasts.
7. 7. Classify global climates using the Koeppen-Geiger scheme, and explain local effects
   resulting from the El Nino Southern Oscillation.
8. 8. Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions to problems in meteorology.

Course Objectives

1. 1. Communicate fundamental concepts in meteorology using appropriate vocabulary, units,
   symbols, and notations, including the basic coding and depiction of meteorological
   information on a weather map, using real-time data.
2. 2. Apply scientific principles, scientific reasoning, and appropriate mathematical techniques to
   solve quantitative problems pertaining to, but not limited to, measurement, unit conversion,
   gas laws, density and buoyancy, heat transfer, air pressure, adiabatic heating and cooling,
   wind chill, and weather forecasting.
3. 3. Assess the status of the weather at a given location, analyzing temperature, pressure,
   precipitation, dew point, and relative humidity data, to include interpreting METAR/station
   code, basic isopleths, depictions of pressure systems, and fronts, for surface as well as
   upper air maps.
4. 4. Balance a basic earth’s heat budget and perform basic stability exercises to determine
   conditional instability, using the physical concepts of density/buoyancy, stability, heat
   transfer, air pressure, adiabatic cooling and heating, relative humidity, and dewpoint.
5. 5. Discriminate the steps of cyclogenesis, while examining weather maps from the surface and
   upper air, to diagnose mid-latitude low pressure formation and strengthening, as well as to
   determine current and forecasted weather conditions associated with these lows.
6. 6. Assess the meaning, utility, and accuracy of forecasts by understanding the basic concept of
   weather forecasting and utilizing online-based weather resources and forecasts.
7. 7. Classify global climates using the Koeppen-Geiger scheme, and explain local effects
   resulting from the El Nino Southern Oscillation.
8. 8. Evaluate and explain the reasonableness of solutions to problems in meteorology.