2007-2008 Undergraduate Academic Catalog - Plymouth State ...

Coursespreceding the student teaching semester; completionof all other program requirements forcertification in Music Education; permissionof the Coordinator of Teacher Certification andClinical experiences.ME 4910 Independent Study 1–3 creditsAdvanced work in specialized area of interest,selected and pursued in consultation with a facultyadvisor. Consent required of the instructorwho will supervise the independent study andthe Department Chair. With permission.MT – MeteorologyMTDI 1100 Weather3 creditsBasic atmospheric physical processes areinvestigated in order to gain a deeper scientificunderstanding of weather phenomena andto explore atmospheric environmental issuessuch as: the Antarctic ozone hole, global climatechange and air pollution. Topics include:structure and composition of the atmosphere,radiation and energy transfer, temperature,moisture, clouds and precipitation, thunderstorms,global circulations, the jet stream, midlatitudecyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes, globalclimate change and air pollution. Studentswho have completed MT 2110 cannot take thiscourse. Falls and Springs. Corequisite(s): MTDI1110. (SCIE)(SIDI)MTDI 1110 Weather Laboratory 1 creditThe skills and methods of scientific inquiryfor basic atmospheric processes are exploredthrough a series of directed and inquiry basedlaboratory exercises. These exercises include:use of meteorological instrumentation to analyzeand interpret some in situ atmosphericmeasurements and use of technology foraccessing, analyzing and interpreting remotelysensed weather data. Laboratory exercises generallycomplement the material in MTDI 1100.Falls and Springs. Corequisite(s): MTDI 1100.(SLAB)(SIDI)MTDI 1500 Severe and HazardousWeather3 creditsAddresses various scientific inquiry skills byanalyzing the world’s most extreme weatherevents in terms of their scientific basis andtheir economic, human and historical consequences.Topics include hurricanes, tornadoes,blizzards, cold waves, heat waves, floods,droughts, major air pollution events and others.Falls. (SCIE)(SIDI)MT 2110 Introduction toMeteorology 3 creditsFundamental description of atmosphericprocesses and phenomena. The global energybudget, winds, air masses, fronts, clouds, snow,rain and hail, thunderstorms, tornadoes andhurricanes are among the topics covered. Falls.Prerequisite(s): Science and Geography majors.Corequisite(s): MT 2230.MT 2230 Introduction to MeteorologicalAnalysis1 creditAn introduction to basic analytical methodsused in meteorology (e.g., surface and upper-airmaps and thermodynamic charts). Supportivelaboratory exercises are also included. Falls.Corequisite(s): MT 2110.MT 2800 Climatology 3 creditsA descriptive climatology course coveringthe three main areas of climatological study:physical climatology, regional climatology andapplied climatology. Topics include: physicalprocesses responsible for climate; major climateregions and climate classifications; theeffect of climate on human cultures and societies;and theories of climate change includingnatural and anthropogenic processes. Springs.Prerequisite(s): MT 2110. (GACO)MT 3250 AtmosphericThermodynamics 4 creditsDevelopment of kinetic theory of gases.Treatment of the First and Second Laws ofThermodynamics with emphasis on atmosphericapplications. Adiabatic processes, stabilityand the use of thermodynamic diagrams.Severe weather indices. Springs. Prerequisite(s):(MTDI 1100 or MT 2110), MA 2550, PH 2410.MT 3300 Synoptic Meteorology I 4 creditsAn introduction to the techniques used tounderstand synoptic-scale atmospheric processesand their application to weather analysisand forecasting. Topics include: decoding andplotting standard meteorological data; plottingand interpretation of thermodynamicdiagrams and cross-section analyses; manualanalyses of upper-air and surface data; surveyof weather graphics products from bothfacsimile and Internet resources; kinematicsof meteorological scalar and vector fields;introduction to basic forecasting techniques;a survey of operational forecast models. Falls.Prerequisite(s): MA 2550 (may be concurrent).MT 3710 Meteorological Instruments andObservations 4 creditsUtilization of standard meteorological instruments.Practical problems in measure andrecording systems. Data reduction and analysis.Introduction to the PC-McIDAS programminglanguage. Experimental meteorologicalliterature. One lecture and one laboratory sessioneach week plus individual writing assignments.Falls. Prerequisite(s): MT 2110 and MA2550 (may be concurrent). (WRIT)(WRCO)MT 4110 Air Quality3 creditsAn extensive view of the science of Air Quality.Main topics include: atmospheric chemistry,air quality meteorology and forecasting techniques,air pollution sources, sinks and effects(atmospheric, environmental). Also examineshistorical and current policy issues. May betaken as CH 4110. Springs. Prerequisite(s): MT2110, CH 2140, MA 2550, PH 2420.MT 4300 Synoptic Meteorology II 4 creditsIntermediate weather analysis and forecastingtechniques are used to understand synoptic-scaleweather systems with an emphasison structure and evolution of extratropicalcyclones. Topics include: climatology of midlatitudesurface and upper-air flow regimesand extratropical cyclogenesis; life cycle ofextratropical cyclones including frontal evolutions;application of hydrodynamical equationsand balanced systems to weather analysisand forecasting; ageostrophic winds; jet streakcirculations. Students participate in weeklyforecasting exercises culminating in a quantitativeprecipitation forecasting exercise at theend of the semester. Springs. Prerequisite(s):MT 3300. Corequisite(s): MT 4320.MT 4310 Dynamic Meteorology I 3 creditsIntroduction to geophysical fluid dynamicsincluding the development of the fundamentalequations, governing atmospheric motion,basic approximations, simplified flows andphysical interpretation of the correspondingtheory. Falls. Prerequisite(s): MA 2560, MT3250, PH 2420.MT 4320 Dynamic Meteorology II 3 creditsAdvanced topics in geophysical fluid dynamicsincluding circulation theory, vorticity,planetary boundary layer, quasi-geostrophictheory and introductory numerical modelingconcepts. Springs. Prerequisite(s): MT 4310 andMA 3540 (may be concurrent).MT 4330 Current Weather 1 creditDiscussions of daily weather maps and datafrom the National Meteorological Center.Technical emphasis; presentations by facultyand students. May be repeated once.Occasionally. Prerequisite(s): MT 4300 (maybe concurrent).MT 4340 Forecasting/MultimediaPracticum1 creditProvides students an opportunity to improveforecasting, computer software and communicationskills while formally meeting forecastdeadlines on a daily basis. Forecasts areprepared and presented in several differentmedia including electronic media such as webpages and phone recordings. May be repeatedfor a maximum of two credits. Prerequisite(s):MT 4300 (may be concurrent); permission ofthe instructor.284 Plymouth State University Academic Catalog 2007–2008