GEOG310-23S2 (C) Semester Two 2023

Weather Systems

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2023
End Date: Sunday, 12 November 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 30 July 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 1 October 2023

Description

This course examines the processes responsible for day to day weather variations, and the operational techniques used in their analysis and forecasting. This includes both research and operational approaches to the study of synoptic scale weather systems and their impact. The processes studied include those that have an influence on the generation and decay of weather systems, but also those that affect the weather experienced in a local area, such as Canterbury. The emphasis is on factors important in short term weather changes, including stability/instability and atmospheric motion. These factors are studied in relation to air mass changes, as well as the effects of topography. Links between the general and synoptic scale atmospheric circulation are also studied, along with the effects of longer term change, such as the ENSO cycles.

GEOG310 is a course that provides the theory and practical tools for better understanding atmospheric processes influencing our day-to-day weather systems. The course focuses on research and practical approaches to the study of large weather systems and local scale processes impacting near-surface observations.

Learning Outcomes

  • To understand the physical processes governing New Zealand’s weather development and changes.
  • To develop practical understanding of day-to-day weather changes
  • To be able to interrogate and handle numerical weather data
  • To get hands-on experience with manipulating and developing Python notebooks
  • To build and develop practical weather data analytical algorithms that are needed for competitive employability in the research and commercial domains
  • To communicate and collaborate effectively across environmental disciplines
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Biculturally competent and confident

      Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

      Engaged with the community

      Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

GEOG211 and 15 points from Schedule S to the BSc

Course Coordinator

Marwan Katurji

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Assignment 1 15%
Assignment 2 15%
Assignment 3 20%
Final Exam 50%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Barry, Roger G. , Chorley, Richard J; Atmosphere, weather, and climate ; 9th ed; Routledge, 2010.

Stull, Roland B; Practical meteorology : an algebra-based survey of atmospheric science ; version 1.02b; University of British Columbia, 2017.

Sturman, Andrew. , Tapper, Nigel; The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand ; 2nd ed; Oxford University Press, 2006.

Notes

Prerequisites:
GEOG211 and 15 points from Schedule S to the BSc

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $916.00

International fee $4,750.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Earth and Environment .

All GEOG310 Occurrences

  • GEOG310-23S2 (C) Semester Two 2023