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Plymouth State University
MSC 11
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264-1595
Course Descriptions
For a full list of graduate course descriptions, go to our course descriptions page.
MT 5110 Air Quality - 3 credits
This course addresses various aspects of the air quality subject. We will discuss the types of air pollutants, their sources, chemistry and effects on humans and the environment. We will analyze how meteorological conditions enhance or reduce the air quality of a specific region. We will produce air quality forecasts. We will also discuss current issues such as air quality monitoring and air pollution regulations. Prerequisite: MT 4300 and any computer programming course.
MT 5200 Transportation Meteorology - 3 credits
Students will learn the various weather systems that affect different modes of transportation. In particular we will study road weather, aviation meteorology and oceanic meteorology. Advanced weather analysis and forecasting skills will be applied in order to make forecasts tailored to various industries. Prerequisite: MT 4300, MT 4320 and any computer programming course.
MT 5300 Synoptic Meteorology II - 4 credits
Intermediate weather analysis and forecasting techniques are used to understand synoptic-scale weather systems with an emphasis on structure and evolution of extra-tropical cyclones. Topics include climatology of mid-latitude surface and upper-air flow regimes and extratropical cyclogenesis, life cycle of extratropical cyclones including frontal evolutions, application of hydrodynamical equations and balanced systems to weather analysis and forecasting, ageostrophic winds, and jet streak circulations. Students participate in weekly exercises culminating in a quantitative precipitation forecasting exercise at the end of the term. This course is co-listed with MT 4300 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5310 Dynamic Meteorology I - 3 credits
This course is an introduction to geophysical fluid dynamics including the development of the fundamental equations governing atmospheric motion, basic approximations, simplified flows and physical interpretation of the corresponding theory. Fall term. This course is co-listed with MT 4310 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5320 Dynamic Meteorology II - 3 credits
This course will cover the advanced topics in geophysical fluid dynamics including circulation theory, vorticity, planetary boundary layer, quasi-geostrophic theory and introductory numerical modeling concepts. Spring term. This course is co-listed with MT 4320 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5330 Satellite Meteorology - 3 credits
This course will provide students with a broad foundation on the history, theory, data and knowledge of meteorological satellites/sensors, so that they will be able to interpret and fully utilize these data for operational and/or research applications and understand their capabilities and limitations.
MT 5340 Radar Meteorology - 3 credits
This course will provide a broad overview of the hardware/ theory behind the application of meteorological radar data. The course will begin with a short history of radar meteorology, which will be followed by a brief summary of the radar hardware and theory applicable to meteorological use and interpretation—beam spreading, ducting, anomalous propagation, etc. The differences between reflectivity, Doppler and polarimetric measurements will also be discussed. Much of the remainder of the course will be used to cover the different levels of NEXRAD data, the available products for each level, algorithms used to automatically analyze these data and application to real world problems, such as quantitative precipitation estimates and severe local storms detection. Prerequisite: MT 4300, MT 4320, MT 4410.
MT 5350 Boundary Layer Meteorology - 3 credits
This course is designed to provide the student with the fundamentals of atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) behavior, where the atmosphere is highly influenced by the earth's surface. The student will develop an appreciation for the role of the ABL in the overall dynamics of the atmosphere. Specifically, students will come to understand the importance of fluxes in the ABL, the general diurnal structure of the ABL, the principles of turbulent flow, including Monin-Obukhov similarity theory, the application of Reynolds averaging and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation.
MT 5410 Atmospheric Physics - 3 credits
This course will provide an application of the basic laws of physics to atmospheric processes. Topics discussed include gravitational effects, properties of atmospheric gases, cloud physics, solar and terrestrial radiation, atmospheric electricity, and optical and acoustical phenomena. Fall term. This course is co-listed with MT 4410 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5430 Climate Change - 3 credits
This course will provide an overview of the methods for examining climate change. Included are time series analysis and climate proxies such as tree-ring analysis, oxygen-18/ oxygen-16 ratios, pollen and carbon-14 dating. Also covered are a variety of possible causal factors such as orbital variations, plate tectonics, volcanic eruptions, CO2 variations and El Nino. The results of paleoclimatic modeling are also discussed. Spring term of odd years. This course is co-listed with MT 4330 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5450 Advanced Synoptic Meteorology - 3 credits
Use of advanced analytical techniques for multiscale weather systems throughout the globe with an emphasis on synoptic-scale, mid-latitude weather. Topics include forecasting applications of the quasi-geostrophic height tendency and omega equations, frontogenesis, Q-vector analysis, isentropic analysis, Hovmoller diagrams, potential vorticity concepts, and the use of dynamic tropopause maps. Weekly weather discussions and forecasting exercises focus on these advanced techniques and areas of current or future applied research topics. Recent articles in the scientific literature are reviewed and used throughout the course. Fall terms. This course is co-listed with MT 4450 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5470 Micrometeorology - 3 credits
Students will study the processes involving the exchange of momentum, heat and moisture between the lowest portion of the atmosphere and the underlying surface of the earth. Topics will include local energy budgets, soil heat transfer, the planetary boundary layer, turbulence, and neutral and diabatic surface layers. Spring term of even years. This course is co-listed with MT 4470 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5550 Topics in Meteorology - 3 credits
A rotating series of courses relating to major subdisciplines of meteorology. Topics will include mesometeorology, tropical meteorology and numerical weather prediction. May be repeated so that students can receive exposure to a variety of subject areas not covered in depth in the primary curriculum. This course is co-listed with MT 4550 in the undergraduate curriculum.
MT 5600 Computer Applications in Meteorology - 3 credits
This course is designed as an intense introduction to the technological tools and techniques used by professional meteorologists in the analysis and display of meteorological and environmental data. Students will learn programming methodology and become proficient in the use of a number of open source and commercial software packages.
MT 5620 Numerical Weather Predictions - 3 credits
This course is designed to acquaint students with the concepts, procedures and problems associated with numerical weather prediction through discussion and actual computer applications with real and simulated data. Students will also learn about the configuration and capabilities of current operational numerical prediction models.
MT 5700 Graduate Seminar Meteorology - 1 credit
Provides graduate students with a forum to publicly present and discuss their results from literature reviews, case studies and/or research. This is a required course for all M.S. in Applied Meteorology students. This course can be repeated for credit twice for a total of 2 credits.
MT 5800 Thesis Research - 1-6 credits
Students will develop and present a thesis research proposal, conduct detailed research, write a thesis and defend the research before a faculty committee. Signature of the faculty supervisor and the Meteorology Graduate Program coordinator is required.
MT 5910 Independent Study - 1-3 credits
Studies undertaken will be defined by students and subject to approval by appropriate staff members. Work may involve reading; conferences; historical, experimental or theoretical projects; field investigation; statistical surveys; combinations of the foregoing or other activities deemed appropriate. Students may work in a physical or biological science or in interdisciplinary areas. Students may not be granted more than three credits. Consent of a faculty supervisor, department chair and the Associate Vice President is required.
