Department of METEOROLOGY
College of Arts and Sciences
Chair: Robert G. Ellingson; Professors: *Barcilon, Ellingson, Fuelberg, T. Krishnamurti, Nicholson, +O'Brien, *Pfeffer, Ray, Zou; Associate Professors: Ahlquist, *Clayson, Kim, Ruscher; Assistant Professors: Bourassa, Liu; Visiting Assistant Professor: Cunningham; Professors Emeriti: Gleeson, LaSeur, Long, Staley, Stuart
- * Also Associate, Institute of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.
- + Joint appointment with the Department of Oceanography
- # Also Faculty Associate, School of Computational Science and Information Technology (CSIT)
The Department of Meteorology was founded in 1949 and throughout its history has been one of the leading meteorology programs in the country. It is the flagship meteorology department in the southeastern United States, offering degrees from the bachelor of science (BS) through the doctor of philosophy (PhD). The program at The Florida State University is considered to be one of the top five comprehensive meteorology programs in the nation.
Members of the Department of Meteorology enjoy the benefits of advanced scientific equipment and a cooperative research environment with the departments of Mathematics and Oceanography, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute (GFDI), and the School of Computational Science and Information Technology (CSIT). Scientific computations are handled on equipment ranging from PCs and Macintosh computers to networks of scientific workstations and a departmental supercomputer. A high speed network connects the department to campus and other supercomputer centers and research laboratories via a very fast campus backbone and excellent Internet connectivity to the outside world. Several of the faculty are also actively involved in National Weather Service collaboration as Fellows of the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Tropical Meteorology.
The department maintains a full suite of weather applications software (including those supported by the Unidata program,) and receives real-time National Weather Service data feeds via NOAA PORT. We also manage our own weather satellite receiving stations for instructional and research use. A public area for current weather discussions and classes includes combinations of weather maps and computer displays. Two departmental computing laboratories are well-populated with networked Sun terminals. The Florida Climate Center and Office of the State Climatologist are housed in the department and are equipped with archives of Florida weather and climate records, including computerized CD-ROM databases. An instrumentation facility is also housed in the department, including data loggers and a variety of modern and historical instruments, and a rooftop meteorological tower for real-timelocal observations.
The department has a complete television studio equipped with state-of-the-art broadcasting technology, where students prepare weathercasts for class (MET 3940) and for regular broadcasts on The Florida State University's cable Channel 4. Students often use this experience to develop internships with television stations or networks. Other internship opportunities through private companies, or state, local, or Federal agencies also are possible. In particular, partnerships and internships with the headquarters of state government agencies located in Tallahassee continue to offer new opportunities for our students.
The EXPLORES! educational outreach program, the NOAA Cooperative Institute in Tropical Meteorology, and the Center for Ocean-Atmosphere Prediction Studies (COAPS) have all formed within the department in the 1990s. These new programs focus on faculty interactions with science teachers, operational meteorologists, and other researchers in exciting new fields of research. A new building that houses the National Weather Service in Tallahassee was completed in 2002 adjacent to the Meteorology/Mathematics building, which has further strengthened the department's ties to the weather forecast community.
National and international honors have been bestowed upon departmental faculty members. Six members of the meteorology faculty are Fellows of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Dr. O'Brien has received the AMS Sverdrup Gold Medal, and Dr. T. Krishnamurti has received the AMS Second Half Century Award and the Rossby Research Medal, as well as the World Meteorological Organization's IMO Prize.
For additional information, see the department's website at http://www.met.fsu.edu.
State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites
Revisions to the 2003-2004 State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites were not available at the time this document went to press. Please refer to http://www.facts.org and click on "Academic Reference Manual." Select the 2003-2004 catalog year under the 'Common Prerequisites Manuals' subheading. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their academic advisor prior to making any decisions based on these prerequisites.
The State of Florida has identified common course prerequisites for this University degree program. These prerequisites are lower-level courses that are required for preparation for the University major prior to a student receiving a baccalaureate degree from The Florida State University. They may be taken either at a community college or in a university lower-division program. It is preferred that these common course prerequisites be completed in the freshman and sophomore years.
The following lists the common course prerequisites or approved substitutions necessary for this degree program:
- MAC 2311;
- MAC 2312;
- PHY 2048/2048L or PHY 2048C;
- PHY 2049/2049L or PHY 2049C.
Requirements for a Major in Meteorology
Please review all college-wide degree requirements summarized in the "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter of this General Bulletin. A detailed handout for meteorology majors entitled Undergraduate Program in Meteorology is available in the departmental office.
Meteorology is a quantitative science requiring extensive preparation in mathematics and physics. Freshmen entering the program are urged to take the College-Level Exemption Program (CLEP) or other exemption examinations in order to realize maximum flexibility.
The Department of Meteorology offers a degree program that prepares students for a diverse number of careers, as well as graduate school. It is highly recommended that students meet regularly with their assigned academic advisor to tailor electives towards students' goals.
Meteorology majors are advised to complete a graduation check with the academic coordinator at least one semester prior to graduation. Graduating students also must complete a written exit survey in their final semester, and if possible, an exit interview with the departmental representative. This interview will discuss information provided from the written exit survey. The College of Arts and Sciences will not approve graduation without receiving the written exit survey.
Coursework and Requirements
Required meteorology coursework. MET 2101, 2502C, 2700, 3300, 4301, 4302, 4420, 4500C, and 4501C. Those intending to seek employment as a meteorologist with the Federal Government should take MET 4400C as one of their elective courses. MET 4450 and its corequisite PHY 3101 are strongly recommended for graduate work.
Required courses in mathematics begin with MAC 2311, which may not be taken without its prerequisite courses, MAC 1114 and MAC1140 or 1147. The following courses, required of all meteorology majors, constitute a minor in mathematics: MAC 2311, 2312, 2313; MAP 2302 or 3305. MAP 3306 or 4341 is strongly recommended for those students wishing to attend graduate school.
All students also must complete CHM 1045C, PHY 2048C, and PHY 2049C. Students who wish to take MET 4450 must also take PHY 3101 (a corequisite course); this provides such students with a second minor in physics. Computer science also has arranged for a special minor for meteorology majors (see department for details.)
The bachelor of arts (BA) degree may be obtained by completing the bachelor of science (BS) degree requirements plus additional courses required by the University.
Academic Performance
All 2000- and 3000- level meteorology courses must be completed with a grade of "C" (2.0) or better to continue to the 4000-level courses. A student who has received more than five unsatisfactory grades (U, F, D-, D, D+) in courses required for a major in meteorology (chemistry, mathematics, meteorology, or physics) at the The Florida State University or elsewhere, whether repeated or not, will not be permitted to graduate with a degree in that major.
A grade point average of at least 2.00 is required for all meteorology courses numbered 2000 or higher. No more than a total of three (3) S/U-grade only MET prefix courses may be used for the total semester hour requirement for a degree in meteorology.
Honors in the Major
The Department of Meteorology offers honors in the major to encourage talented students to undertake independent research. For requirements and other information, see the "University Honors Program and Honor Societies" chapter of this General Bulletin.
Requirements for a Minor in Meteorology
Requirements for a minor in meteorology must be discussed on an individual basis with a meteorology faculty advisor or academic coordinator. Options are available and must be matched to a student's academic background, and generally require meteorology and mathematics coursework. Additional information is available from the academic coordinator in the Department of Meteorology, 404 Love Building. In no case may more than three (3) semester hours in S/U courses apply towards a major or minor meteorology.
Class Attendance
The Department of Meteorology does not enforce the first-day attendance policy. Students missing the first day of any class will not automatically be dropped.
Definition of Prefixes
- ISC - Interdisciplinary Science
- MAP - Mathematics: Applied
- MET - Meteorology
- OCP - Oceanography: Physical
- PSC - Physical Science
- SCE - Science Education
Undergraduate Courses
ISC 3076. Science, Technology, and Society (3).
PSC 2800C. Earth Science for EC/EE Teachers (4).
and
SCE 4939r. Seminar in Contemporary Science, Mathematics, and Science Education (1).
Note: for descriptions of the above courses, see interdisciplinary science courses listed in the "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter of this General Bulletin.
MET 1010. Introduction to the Atmosphere (3). Structure of the atmosphere; weather processes and weather systems, including climatic processes. Credit may not be received in this course if student has already received credit in 2000-level or higher MET courses.
MET 1010L. Introductory Meteorology Laboratory (1). Prerequisites: MAC 1105 or equivalent; college-level algebra. Corequisite: MET 1010. Two (2) hours per week. Data analysis, instruments, and weather system models.
SCE 4365C. Teaching Earth and Space Science (3). This course examines the pedagogical content knowledge needed to teach earth/space science.
Introductory Courses for Majors
MET 2101. Physical Climatology (3). Corequisite: MET 2700. Global distribution of principal climatic elements with emphasis on physical causes. Statistical analysis of distributions of climatological variables.
MET 2502C. Weather Analysis and Forecasting (2). Corerequisite: MET 2700. This course is an introduction to meteorological observations, data, codes, and scalar analysis practices. Weather applications software systems and computing environments for meteorological analysis and weather forecasting techniques are examined.
MET 2700. General Meteorology (3). Prerequisites: CHM 1045C, MAC 2311. Corequisite: PHY 2048C. Atmospheric structure and composition; weather and circulation systems; physics of atmospheric processes, including thermodynamics of dry and moist air.
MET 3300. Introduction to Atmospheric Dynamics (3). Prerequisites: MAC 2312 ("C-" or better); MET 2700 ("C" or better). This course will examine a variety of topics, including equations of motion, mass conservation, thermodynamics, vorticity, and geostrophic, gradient and thermal winds.
MET 3949r. Cooperative Education Work Experience (0). (S/U grade only.)
Required Courses for Majors
MET 4301. Atmospheric Dynamics I (4). Prerequisites: MET 3300 ("C" or better); MAP 2302 or 3305. Corequisite: MET 4420. Acceleration in rotating curvilinear coordinates; momentum, continuity, and energy equations; geostrophic, gradient, and thermal winds; generalized coordinates; circulation and vorticity theorems; scale analysis; Reynolds stresses; Prandtl and Ekman layers; developing baroclinic systems.
MET 4302. Atmospheric Dynamics II (3). Prerequisite: MET 4301. Linear perturbation theory; sound, gravity, and Rossby waves; numerical weather prediction; baroclinic and barotropic instability; energetics. An introduction to theory of partial differential equations applied to meteorological problems also is presented.
MET 4420. Atmospheric Physics I (3). Prerequisites: PHY 2048C, 2049C; MET 2700 ("C" or better); MAC 2313. Classical equilibrium thermodynamics; first and second law, entropy, phase changes, potentials. Physics of moist air; physics of aerosols; condensation of water vapor on aerosols.
MET 4500C. Synoptic Lecture-Laboratory I: Basic Analysis Techniques (3). Prerequisites: MET 2502C ("C" or better), 3300; or consent of instructor. Corequisites: MET 4301 or 5311; MET 4420; CGS 3460 or other programming language. Analysis of scalar and vector fields, introduction to the three-dimensional structure of atmospheric systems, and thermodynamic diagrams.
MET 4501C. Synoptic Lecture-Laboratory II: Four-Dimensional Structure (4). Prerequisites: MET 4301 or 5311; MET 4420, 4500C; STA 2122 or equivalent. Synoptic calculation and four-dimensional analysis of weather systems.
Elective Courses for Majors
MET 3520r. Current Weather Discussion (1). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: MET 2700. Discussion of facsimile analysis and prediction materials. Three meetings per week. May be repeated to a maximum of four (4) semester hours.
MET 3940r. Weathercasting (1). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: MET 1010 or Corequisite: MET 2700. Practice in preparing and presenting weathercasts for radio and television. May be repeated to a maximum of four (4) semester hours.
MET 4130. Advanced Physical Climatology (2). Prerequisites: MET 2101 ("C" or better); MAC 2312. Treatment of causes of climate in terms of physical, dynamical, and geographical factors.
MET 4159r. Selected Topics in Meteorology (1-3). Prerequisite: MET 2700 ("C" or better). Corequisites: MET 2101, 3300; or consent of instructor. Selected topics in meteorology and climatology not covered in other courses. May be repeated for different material to a maximum of twelve (12) semester hours.
MET 4400C. Meteorological Instrumentation and Observations (3). Prerequisites: PHY 2048C and MET 2700, both with a grade of "C" or better. Two (2) hours lecture, three (3) hours laboratory. Theory and practice of calibration and operation of basic sensors. Measurement of temperature, heat flow, fluid flow, pressure, and moisture.
MET 4450. Atmospheric Physics II (3). Prerequisite: MET 4420; Corequisite: PHY 3101. Microphysics and dynamics of clouds; growth of ice crystals. Radiative processes in the atmosphere; radiative transfer equation, absorption by gases, Rayleigh scattering.
MET 4900r. Honors Work (1-6). May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
MET 4905r. Directed Individual Study (1-3). May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
MET 4945r. Meteorology Internship (1-9). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Instructors approval. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours. Supervised internship individually assigned to accommodate students background and objectives. Credit proportional to scope and significance of work.
Graduate Courses
Dynamical Meteorology
MAP 5431. Introduction to Fluid Dynamics (3).
MAP 6434r. Advanced Topics in Hydrodynamics (3).
MET 5311. Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I (3).
MET 5312. Advanced Dynamic Meteorology II (3).
MET 5340r. Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulations (3).
MET 5541r. Dynamical Weather Prediction (3).
MET 6308r. Advanced Topics in Dynamical Meteorology (3).
OCP 5253. Fluid Dynamics: Geophysical Applications (3).
Physical Meteorology
MET 5403C. Meteorological Instruments and Observations (3).
MET 5411. Radar Meteorology (3).
MET 5421. Radiative Transfer (3).
MET 5425. Advanced Atmospheric Physics I (3).
MET 5451. Advanced Physical Meteorology II (3).
MET 5455. Cloud Physics (3).
MET 5471. Planetary Atmospheres (3).
MET 6480r. Advanced Topics in Physical Meteorology (3).
Synoptic Meteorology
MET 5505C. Advanced Synoptic Lecture Laboratory I (3).
MET 5506C. Advanced Synoptic Lecture Laboratory II (4).
MET 5510C. Midlatitude Synoptic Scale Systems (4).
MET 5511C. Meso-Meteorology Lecture Laboratory (4).
MET 5533. Tropical Meteorology I (3).
MET 5534. Tropical Meteorology II (3).
MET 5550. Statistical Weather Prediction (3).
MET 6561r. Advanced Topics in Synoptic Meteorology (3).
Climatology
MET 5105. Global Climate System (3).
MET 5135. Dynamic Climatology (3).
MET 6155r. Advanced Topics in Climatology (1-3).
Other Courses
MET 5090. Applied Time Series Analysis (3).
MET 5905r. Directed Individual Study (1-3). (S/U grade only.)
MET 5906r. Directed Individual Study (1-3).
MET 5910r. Supervised Research (1-5). (S/U grade only.)
MET 5920r. Colloquium: Topics in Meteorology Research (1). (S/U grade only.)
MET 5930. Master's Seminar (2).
MET 5971r. Thesis (1-6). (S/U grade only.)
MET 5979r. Supervised Teaching (1-5). (S/U grade only.)
MET 6906r. Directed Individual Study (1-3). (S/U grade only.)
MET 6930r. Doctoral Seminar (1).
MET 6980r. Dissertation (1-12). (S/U grade only.)
MET 8964r. Preliminary Doctoral Examination (0).
MET 8966r. Master's Comprehensive Examination (0).
MET 8976r. Master's Thesis Defense (0).
MET 8985r. Dissertation Defense (0).
OCP 5271. Turbulence (3).
OCP 5551. Physics of the Air-Sea Boundary Layer (3).
For listings relating to graduate course work for thesis, dissertation, and master's and doctoral examinations and defense, consult the Graduate Bulletin.
MICROBIOLOGY:
see Biological Science
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