The request to revise the Meteorology B.S. degree requirements

Date: April 5, 2011
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Clarence Greene, Faculty Governance Assistant
Approved On: March 18, 2011
Implementation Date: 2011

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN METEOROLOGY

The primary goal of the Bachelor of Science program in Meteorology is to advance our understanding of the atmospheric processes that influence weather and climate. This pursuit inherently involves an interdisciplinary approach through the combination of advanced coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics, statistics, computer science, geology, earth science, and meteorology with emphasis on recent basic and applied research. The program is designed to provide the next generation of meteorologists with sufficient knowledge and skills to (a) effectively monitor and analyze the atmospheric state across a spectrum of temporal and geospatial scales; (b) provide accurate and timely forecasts of ordinary and severe weather; and (c) address relevant contemporary challenges such as global and region climate change, human interactions with the natural environment, and the development of sustainable communities. To this end, the core meteorological curriculum is composed of courses that collectively provide a broad treatment of multi-scale atmospheric processes, including atmospheric thermodynamics and physics as well as synoptic, dynamic, and mesoscale meteorology. The major comprises a minimum of 70 total69 hours with 31 hours of in required departmentalEarthScience, Geology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Engineeringcourses, 9and 7 hours of in elective departmental courses, and 30Earth Science courses. Of these 69 hours, a minimum of 20 semester hours of required extra-departmental courses. will be in Meteorology courses, including METR 3140, METR 3220, METR 3245, METR 3250, METR 4245, and METR 4250. An outline of the Bachelor of Science program in Meteorology appears below. Students are also encouraged to take additional coursework in related disciplines. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology program must complete a total of 120 hours,and fulfill the general educationGeneralEducationrequirements applicable to all baccalaureate degrees at UNC Charlotte. Consult the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences for a suggested schedule to complete a B.S. degree in Meteorology.

Required Courses (318hours)
  • ESCI 1101 Earth Sciences – Geography (3)
  • ESCI 1101L Earth Sciences – Geography Lab (1)
  • GEOL 1200 Physical Geology (3)
  • GEOL 1200L Physical Geology Lab (1)
Required Upper Division Courses (24 hours)
  • ESCI 3105 Oceanography (3)
  • ESCI 4600 Earth Sciences Seminar (1)
  • METR 3140 IntroductionIntro to Meteorology and& Climatology (3)
  • METR 3210 Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3)
  • METR 3220 Physical Meteorology (3)
  • METR 3245 Synoptic Meteorology (4)
  • METR 3250 Dynamic Meteorology (4)
  • METR 4245 Advanced Synoptic Meteorology (3)
  • METR 4250 Advanced Dynamic Meteorology (3)
Elective Courses (Select 97hours)
  • ESCI 3105 Oceanography (3)
  • ESCI 4140 Hydrological Processes (4)
  • ESCI 4155 FluvialHydrologic Processes (4)
  • ESCI 4170 Fundamentals ofRemote Sensing (4)
  • ESCI 4180 Advanced Remote Sensing (Digital Image Processing (4)
  • METR 3240 Boundary Layer Meteorology (4)
  • GEOG 2103 Elements of GIScience & Technologies (4)
  • GEOG 3215 Environmental Planning (W) (3)
  • GEOG 4120 Fundamentals of GIS (4)
  • GEOG 4131 Environmental Modeling with GIS (4)
  • METR 3252 Weather Analysis Laboratory (1)
  • METR 3330 Forecasting (3)
  • METR 3340 Weather Communications (3)
  • METR 4150 Applied Climatology (W) (3)
  • METR 4240 Boundary Layer Meteorology (3)
  • METR 4320 Tropical Meteorology (3)
  • METR 4350 Mesoscale Meteorology (3)
Additional Required Extra-DepartmentalCourses (30 hours)
  • CHEM 1251 Principles of Chemistry (3)
  • CHEM 1251L Principles of Chemistry Lab (1)
  • ITCS 1212 Introduction to Computer Science (3)
  • ITCS 1212L Introduction to Computer Science Lab (0)
  • ETME 3133 Fluid Mechanics (3)
  • ETME 3143 Thermodynamics (3)
  • MATH 1241 Calculus I (3)
  • MATH 1242 Calculus II (3)
  • MATH 2171 Differential Equations (3)
  • MATH 2241 Calculus III (3)
  • PHYS 2101 Physics for Science& Engineering I (3)
  • PHYS 2101L Physics for Science & Engineering I Lab (1)
  • PHYS 2102 Physics for Science I Lab (1& Engineering II (3)
  • PHYS 2102 2102L Physics for Science II (3)
  • PHYS 2102L Physics for Science & Engineering II Lab (1)
  • STAT 2122 IntroductionIntro to Probability and& Statistics (3)
Course Descriptions:

METR 3140.Introduction to Meteorology & Climatology.(3) Prerequisite:ESCI 1101-1101L,orpermission of instructor. Fundamental physicalprinciples of weather and climate. Analysis of shortand long term atmospheric behavior are introduced.Topics include solar radiation, temperature, moisture,wind and pressure, synoptic systems, regionalclimates, paleoclimates, climatic change, and applied climatology. (Fall)

METR 3210.Atmospheric Thermodynamics.(3) PrerequisitesPrerequisite: METR 3140with a grade of C or better and MATH 1241, or permission of instructor. The study of the physical processes associated with atmospheric thermodynamics and stability. Topics include: atmospheric composition, the equation of state, hydrostatics,the first and second laws of thermodynamics for dry, moist, and saturated air, atmospheric stability, parcel buoyancy, and thermodynamic diagrams. Three hours of combined lecture and lab per week. (Spring, On demand)

METR 3220.Physical Meteorology.(3) Prerequisite: METR 3210 with a grade of C or better, or permission of instructor. 3140. Properties of aerosols and clouds, cloud nucleation and precipitation processes, and atmospheric electricity. Principles of atmospheric radiation, radiative transfer, andIntroductiontoradar meteorology. Three hours of combined lecture and lab per week. (FallSpring)

METR 3240. Boundary-Layer Meteorology. (4) Prerequisites: METR 3140, MATH 1241, or permission of instructor. Examines the flows of energy, water, and gases within the planetary boundary layer and the exchange of energy and mass at the earth’s surface. Theories of interactions within the boundary-layer. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour lab per week. (Spring)

METR 3245. Synoptic Meteorology. (4) Prerequisite: METR3210 with a grade of C or better, 3140, MATH 1241, or permission of instructor. Principles of meteorologicalAn extension of ESCI 3250 to include atmospheric modeling, analysis; fundamental concepts of of air mass structure, synoptic analysis with quantitative forecasting techniques, severe storm characteristics, wind shear, boundary-layer meteorology, thermodynamics, and kinematics are integrated to understand the structure and evolution of mid-latitude cyclones and frontsand techniques for differentiating climatic regime traits and analysis of their variation through time. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour lab per week. (Fall)

METR 3250.Dynamic Meteorology.(4) Prerequisites: METR 3245 with a grade of C3140, MATH 1241, orbetter, MATH 1242, and PHYS 2101, or permission of instructor. PrinciplesIn-depth examinationofatmospheric dynamics, including the equations of motion, circulation, vorticity, divergence, balanced and unbalanced flows, and the horizontal flow inthe atmosphere, characteristics of fluid flow appliedto the atmosphere, and general circulationmodels.Three hours of lectureand one, three-hourhours of lab, per week.(Spring)

METR 3252.Weather Analysis Laboratory.(1) PrerequisitesPrerequisite or Corequisitescorequisite: METR 3245 andpermission of instructor. Topics related to atmospheric Weather observation,meteorologic data collection, analysis,and analysis, andtechniques of weather forecasting. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)

METR 3330.Weather Forecasting.(3) Prerequisite: METR 3245, or permission ofinstructor. This course will focus on weatherforecasting: real-time, short-term, and long-term.Verification techniques will be studied. Three hoursof combined lecture and lab per week. (Spring, On demand)

METR 3340.Weather Communications.(3) Prerequisiteor Corequisite: METR 3245, or permission ofinstructor. A survey of the field of weathercommunications covering weather forecastingprinciples, television and radio broadcasting, sciencewriting, forensic meteorology, and forecasting forbusiness applications. Three hours of combined lecture and lab perweek. (Fall, On demand)

METR 4000.Selected Topics in Meteorology.(1-4) PrerequisitePrerequisites: METR 3140,or permission of theinstructor. In-depth treatment of specific topicsselected from meteorology. May be repeated forcredit as topics vary. (On demand)

METR 4150.Applied Climatology.(3) (W) Prerequisite: METR 3250,or permission ofinstructor. Methods of acquiring and analyzingclimactic data in various types of applied problems. Emphasis on methods to assess and reduce theimpact of weather and climate upon humanactivities. Three hours of combined lecture and lab per week. (Spring)

METR 4240 Boundary-Layer Meteorology (3) Prerequisite: METR 3210, orpermission of instructor. Examines the flow of mass, energy, and moisture within the planetary boundary layer including their exchange at the earth’s surface and theories of interaction. Principles of air pollution including sources, sinks, and controls. Interaction of the atmosphere with underlying surfaces (i.e. soils, vegetation, oceans, glaciers). Design and operation of instruments used to monitor the atmosphere with an emphasis on practical application. Three hours of combined lecture and lab per week. (Fall, On demand)

METR 4245.Advanced Synoptic Meteorology.(3) PrerequisitePrerequisites: METR 3245, METR 3250with a grade. Anextension of C or better, or permission of instructor. An METR 3245 sufficient to develop an integrated view of dynamic and synoptic and dynamic meteorologyfocusing on advanced.Included are a survey of conceptual models andanalysis techniques for mid-latitude weather systemsmesoscaleatmosphericfeatures, cumulus convection,and regional precipitation events. tropical storms.Three hours of combined lecture and lab per week. (FallSpring, Ondemand)

METR 4250.Advanced Dynamic Meteorology.(3) Prerequisites: METR 3245, METR 3250with a grade of C or better, MATH 2171, and MATH 2241, orpermission of instructor. An inIn-depth examination ofatmospheric dynamics, focusing on the structure andevolution of synoptic scale dynamical and mesoscaleconvectiveweather systems, wave dynamics (Rossby, topographic, inertia-gravity, etc.), scale-analysis, non-dimensional numbers, and atmospheric modeling. Threehours of combined lecture and lab per week. (Fall, On demand)

METR 4320.Tropical Meteorology.(3) Prerequisite: Prerequisites: METR 3245 and METR 3250, orpermission of instructor. A comprehensive study ofthe tropical atmosphere, including climatology, meanstructure and circulation, air-sea energy exchange,cumulus transport, synoptic waves, and tropicalstorms. Special attention is paid to the formation,evolution, motion, and societal impacts of hurricanes. Three hours of combined lecture and lab per week. (Fall,On demand)

METR 4350.Mesoscale Meteorology.(3) Prerequisite or CorequisitePrerequisites: METR 3245 and METR 3250, orpermission of instructor. A comprehensive study ofthe structure, evolution, and dynamics of atmospheric phenomena having spatial scales between 2 and 2000200km. Topics include: fronts, convective initiation,mesoscale convective systems, severe thunderstorms,tornadoes, low-level jets, drylines, land-sea breezes, shallow convection, and terraineffects. Three hours of combined lectureand labper week. (Spring,On demand)

METR 4400.Internship in Meteorology.(3-6) Prerequisite: Permission of the department. Research and/or work experience designed to be alogical extension of a student’s academic program. The student must apply to department for an internship by submitting a proposal which specifiesthe type of work/research experience preferred andhow the internship will complement his or her academic program. The department will attempt to place the selected students in cooperating communityorganizations to complete specified research or work-relatedworkrelatedtasks which are based on a contractual arrangement between the student and community organization. The student can receive three to sixhours credit, depending on the nature and extent ofthe internship assignment. (On demand)

METR 4800.Individual Study in Meteorology.(1-4) Prerequisite: Permission from the department andcredit hours established in advance. Tutorial study orspecial research problems. The student must request permission for independent study from an individualfaculty member. May be repeated for credit as topicsvary. (On demand)