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

MT 4350 Forecasting/RadioPracticum1 creditProvides students an opportunity to improveforecasting and communication skills whileformally meeting forecast deadlines on a dailybasis. Forecasts are prepared and presentedon radio. May be repeated for a maximum oftwo credits. Prerequisite(s): MT 4300 (may beconcurrent); permission of the instructor.MT 4360 Forecasting/TelevisionPracticum1 creditProvides students an opportunity to improveforecasting and communication skills whileformally meeting forecast deadlines on a dailybasis. Forecasts are prepared and presented ontelevision. May be repeated for a maximum oftwo credits. Prerequisite(s): MT 4300 (may beconcurrent); permission of the instructor.MT 4410 Atmospheric Physics 3 creditsAn application of the basic laws of physicsto atmospheric processes. Topics discussedinclude gravitational effects, properties ofatmospheric gases, cloud physics, solar andterrestrial radiation, atmospheric electricityand optical and acoustic phenomena. Falls.Prerequisite(s): MA 2560, MT 3250, PH 2420.MT 4430 Climate Change 3 creditsOverview of the methods for examining climatechange. Included are time series analysisand climate proxies such as tree-ring analysis,18O/ 16 O ratios, pollen and carbon-14 dating.Also covered are a variety of possible causal factorssuch as orbital variations, plate tectonics,volcanic eruptions, CO 2variations and El Niño.The results of paleoclimatic modeling are alsodiscussed. Spring of odd years. Prerequisite(s):MT 4310.MT 4450 Advanced SynopticMeteorology 3 creditsUse of advanced analysis techniques formultiscale weather systems throughout theglobe with an emphasis on synoptic-scale midlatitudeweather. Topics include: forecastingapplications of the quasi-geostrophic heighttendency and omega equations; frontogenesis;Q-vector analysis; isentropic analysis;Hovmoller diagrams, potential vorticity conceptsand the use of dynamic tropopause maps.Weekly weather discussions and forecastingexercises focus on these advanced techniquesand areas of current or future applied researchtopics. Recent articles in the scientific literatureare reviewed and used throughout the course.Falls. Prerequisite(s): MT 4300 and MT 4320.MT 4470 Micrometeorology 3 creditsStudy of processes involving the exchangeof momentum, heat and moisture betweenthe lowest portion of the atmosphere and theunderlying surface of the earth. Topics suchas local energy budgets, soil heat transfer, theplanetary boundary layer, turbulence, neutraland diabatic surface layers are included. Springof even years. Prerequisite(s): MT 4320.MT 4510 Senior Research 2 creditsDevoted to an investigation of a specific meteorologicalproblem chosen by students andapproved by the faculty member directing theresearch. Research topics may be chosen fromany area of theoretical, applied or operationalmeteorology. A research summary (both awritten report and an oral seminar) is required.Falls. Prerequisite(s): Meteorology major withsenior standing.MT 4520 Senior Research 2 creditsDevoted to an investigation of a specific meteorologicalproblem chosen by students andapproved by the faculty member directing theresearch. Research topics may be chosen fromany area of theoretical, applied or operationalmeteorology. A research summary (both awritten report and an oral seminar) is required.Springs. Prerequisite(s): Meteorology majorwith senior standing.MT 4550 Topics3 creditsA rotating series of courses relating to majorsubdisciplines of meteorology. Topics includemesometeorology, tropical meteorology andnumerical weather prediction. May be repeatedso that students can receive exposure to avariety of subject areas not covered in depthin the primary curriculum. Occasionally.Prerequisite(s): MT 3300, MT 4310; permissionof the instructor.MT 4600 Internship 1–4 creditsInvolves 1–4 weeks of full-time work at a privateor governmental forecast office or weatherobservatory. The on-site experience is providedto give students an opportunity to becomemore familiar with weather service equipmentand forecasting procedures and to participatein daily weather observations and discussions.Compensation is not necessarily providedfor intern time. One credit is given for each40-hour week of participation. Meteorologymajors may seek permission of the instructorif they have not taken the stated prerequisites.With permission. Prerequisite(s): MT 3300, MT4310; Meteorology major.MT 4910 Independent Study 1–4 creditsOrdinarily for Meteorology majors. Studiesundertaken are defined by students, subject toapproval by appropriate staff members. Workmay involve reading, conferences, historical,experimental or theoretical projects, fieldinvestigations, statistical surveys or combinationsof the foregoing. Consent required of theinstructor who will supervise the independentstudy and the Department Chair.CoursesPlymouth State University Academic Catalog 2007–2008 285