2009-2010 FSU Graduate Bulletin
Department of Meteorology
College of Arts and Sciences
Chair: Robert G. Ellingson; Associate Chair: *Ruscher; Professors: +Chassignet, Ellingson, Fuelberg, Liu, Nicholson, Ray, *Zou; Associate Professors: Ahlquist, *Bourassa, Cai, *Clayson, *Cunningham, *Ruscher; Assistant Professors: Hart, Misra,*Reasor, Sura; Professors Emeriti: *Barcilon, Gleeson, *T. Krishnamurti, LaSeur, Long, +*O'Brien, *Pfeffer, Staley
* Also Associate, Institute of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics.
+ Joint appointment with the Department of Oceanography
The Department of Meteorology was founded in 1949. At that time, the department had the only meteorology program in the southeastern United States. Throughout its history the department has had one of the leading meteorology programs in the country and at present is considered to be one of the top ten departments in the nation for overall excellence of broadly based programs.
Meteorology graduate students are candidates for either the Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Graduate students normally specialize in dynamic, physical, synoptic meteorology, or climatology.
Faculty members and graduate students in the department are conducting research in many areas, including air/sea interaction, boundary layer meteorology, climate prediction, data assimilation, design of meteorological networks, large-scale flow, meso-meteorology, numerical weather prediction, ocean upwelling, physical climatology, radar meteorology, radiation physics, remote sensing, satellite meteorology, statistical prediction, tropical circulations, turbulence, and vortex dynamics.
National and international honors have been bestowed upon departmental faculty members. Five members of the meteorology faculty are Fellows of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Further, Dr. O'Brien has received the AMS Sverdrup Gold Medal; 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; Dr. Ellingson earned the U.S. Department of Energy Distinguished Associate Award; Dr. Nicholson has received the Hugh Robert Mill Medal from the Royal Meteorological Society; Dr. Clayson received the Presidential Early Careers award for Scientists and Engineers; and Dr. Hart was awarded the AMS Meisinger Award.
Members of the Department of Meteorology enjoy the benefits from advanced scientific equipment and a cooperative research environment with the departments of Mathematics and Oceanography, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, and the Department of Scientific Computing. Scientific computations are handled by workstations and microcomputers within the department, including SUN, Silicon Graphics, IBM, Apple and IBM PCs, and PC clones. An advanced meteorological computing laboratory is available to graduate students in the department. Florida State University also has state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities on campus, accessible by both faculty and students.
GOES and NOAA polar-orbitor satellite images are ingested by our direct readout ground stations and are available in real-time at various locations in the meteorology building and on our Web site, http://www.met.fsu.edu. The department also maintains an atmospheric instrumentation laboratory to support education and research in the area of experimental meteorology.
The EXPLORES! educational outreach program and the Center for Ocean-Atmosphere Prediction Studies (COAPS) were formed within the department in the 1990s. These programs focus on faculty interactions with science teachers, operational meteorologists, and other researchers in exciting new fields of research. Our department is one of the few in the country where a National Weather Service Forecast Office is located in the same building as the department, which facilitates interactions between students and professional operational forecasters.
College Requirements
Please review all college-wide requirements summarized in the "College of Arts and Sciences" chapter of this Graduate Bulletin.
Admission Requirements
Prior work in meteorology is not a requirement for admission to graduate study in the Department of Meteorology, but candidates must have a strong preparation in mathematics and physics. Each student must have completed or must complete undergraduate level work in synoptic meteorology (MET 4500C; 4501C or equivalent), physical meteorology (MET 4420; 4450 or equivalent), and dynamic meteorology (MET 4301; 4302 or equivalent). MET 5311 and 5312 may be used to substitute for MET 4301 and 4302. It is recommended that all graduate students who have not had course work equivalent to MET 2700, 2101, 3300, 3502C independently study this material during their first semester in graduate school, or consider beginning their graduate program in the summer. Students also should have completed mathematics through partial differential equations (MAP 4341 or equivalent), have had a course in FORTRAN programming (CGS 3460 or equivalent), and have had at least one year of physics with calculus. Satisfactory completion of these general requirements is expected to precede graduate level work. A score of at least 1100 on the aptitude test (verbal and quantitative) of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in upper-division undergraduate courses is normally required for admission to the Department of Meteorology. Fellowships and assistantships are available to well-qualified applicants; three letters of recommendation are required.
Master of science (MS) Degree Program
A candidate for the MS degree must satisfy all university-wide MS requirements. At least eighteen (18) semester hours must be earned on a letter grade basis for the thesis plan and twenty-one (21) semester hours for the course plan. The minimum university requirements are thirty (30) semester hours for the thesis plan and thirty-two (32) semester hours for the course plan, of which supervised research (MET 5910) and supervised teaching (MET 5979) can be used for the MS degree. Students electing the thesis plan must have credit for at least six (6) semester hours of thesis (MET 5971). All candidates for the MS degree must satisfactorily pass MET 5930, Master's Seminar. This includes presentation of a seminar to the department and submission of an approved written version of the seminar. All candidates for the MS degree must satisfactorily pass MET 5910, Supervised Research.
Doctoral Degree Program
Candidates may specialize in many areas including dynamical, physical, synoptic meteorology, or climatology. Specialization in marine meteorology and air-sea interaction may also be arranged in cooperation with the Department of Oceanography.
All doctoral candidates in meteorology must satisfy the following requirements: 1) the doctoral preliminary examinations, which may be combined with the master's comprehensive examination; 2) one (1) hour of MET 6930 for oral presentation of prospectus and one (1) hour of 6930 for oral presentation of dissertation; and 3) an acceptable doctoral dissertation. There is no foreign language requirement.
Definition of Prefixes
MAP—Mathematics Applied
MET—Meteorology
OCP—Physical Oceanography
Graduate Courses
Dynamical Meteorology
MAP 5431. Introduction to Fluid Dynamics (3). Prerequisites: PHY 2048C, MAP 4153. Corequisites: MAP 4341, 3306, 5345, or instructor permission. Physical properties of viscous fluids, kinematics of flow fields, governing equations, viscous flow. Also offered by the departments of Mathematics and Oceanography.
MAP 6434r. Advanced Topics in Hydrodynamics (3). Also offered by the departments of Mathematics and Oceanography. May be repeated to a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours.
MET 5311. Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I (3). Prerequisites: MAP 4341 or 3306; PHY 2049C. Coordinate systems; conservation equations for mass, momentum, and energy; equation of state; scaling; generalized vertical coordinates; geostrophic, gradient, cyclostrophic wind; thermal wind; vorticity and divergence equations; the omega equation; Reynolds averaging and turbulence; boundary layer and Ekman layer dynamics.
MET 5312. Advanced Dynamic Meteorology II (3). Prerequisite: MET 5311. Scale analysis of the vorticity, divergence, and omega equations; quasi-geostrophic quasi-nondivergent systems; synoptic development of baroclinic disturbances; linear perturbations; sound, gravity, Rossby waves. Baroclinic instability; the two-level model; numerical weather prediction.
MET 5340r. Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulations (3). Prerequisite: MET 4302 or 5312. Large scale atmospheric circulations featuring observational and experimental studies (global distribution of meteorological variables, momentum, and energy budgets; meridional circulation; available energy; laboratory studies) and theoretical studies (Eadys baroclinic instability model, integral theorems, numerical models, flow-over topography, wave-mean interactions). May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) semester hours. May be repeated in the same semester.
MET5406. Satellite Observations and Their Applications in Numerical Weather Prediction (3). Prerequisites: MAP 3305 or equivalent computer programming. This course covers techniques, research, and operational applications related to satellite observations and their applications in numerical weather prediction. Students gain hands-on experience and a comprehensive understanding of data assimilation and related application problems in atmospheric science.
MET 5541r. Dynamical Weather Prediction (3). Prerequisite: MET 4301 or 5311. Prediction of atmospheric and oceanic flow patterns by numerical methods; numerical solution of partial differential equation; modeling. May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) semester hours.
MET 6308r. Advanced Topics in Dynamical Meteorology (3). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. May be repeated to a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours.
OCP 5256. Fluid Dynamics: Geophysical Applications (3). Prerequisite: MAP 5431 or instructor permission. Shallow water theory, Poincare, Kelvin, and Rossby waves; boundary layer theory; wind-driven ocean circulation models; quasi-geostrophic motion on a sphere, thermocline problem; stability theories. Also offered by the departments of Mathematics and Oceanography.
Physical Meteorology
MET 5407. Fundamentals of Atmospheric Data Assimilation (3). Prerequisites: MAP 3305 or equivalent computer programming. This course provides the fundamentals of objective analysis and data assimilation with an emphasis on the physical aspects of objective analysis. Students learn how the general mathematical concepts and methods are applied to solve many practical data analysis and assimilation problems in atmospheric science.
MET 5411. Radar Meteorology (3). Prerequisite: MET 4450 or instructor permission. Principles of incoherent and doppler radar; radar as an observational and analytical tool. The use of radar in basic research.
MET 5421. Radiative Transfer (3). Prerequisite: MET 4450 or instructor permission. Molecular absorption, band models, solar and terrestrial radiative fluxes, and heating rates in the troposphere and stratosphere. Radiative properties of atmospheric aerosols.
MET 5425. Advanced Atmosphere Physics I (3). Prerequisites: MAC 2313 or equivalent; MET 2700; PHY 2048C, 2049C. Classical equilibrium thermodynamics. First and second law, entropy, phase changes, and potentials. Physics of moist air. Physics of aerosols. Condensation of water vapor on aerosols.
MET 5451. Advanced Physical Meteorology II (3). Prerequisite: MET 5425 or equivalent. Examines the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and the atmosphere. Absorption and emission of light by the sun, the earth, and various components of the atmosphere, and the transfer of energy and scattering of radiation by the atmosphere.
MET 5455. Cloud Physics (3). Prerequisites: MET 4420, 4450, or instructor permission. Microphysics of clouds. Development of warm and cold rain processes; hail formation, microphysical parameterizations, microphysical basis for weather modification and electrication.
MET 5471. Planetary Atmospheres (3). Prerequisites: MET 4450; MET 4302 or 5312, or instructor permission. Composition, extent, properties, cloud forms, general circulation; geophysics of the planets; theoretical deductions; implications for general circulation on Earth.
MET 6480r. Advanced Topics in Physical Meteorology (3). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. May be repeated to a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours.
Synoptic Meteorology
MET 5505C. Advanced Synoptic Lecture-Laboratory I (3). Prerequisite: CGS 3460. Corequisites: MET 5311, 5425. An analysis of scalar and vector fields, an introduction to the three-dimensional structure of atmospheric systems, and thermodynamic diagrams.
MET 5506C. Advanced Synoptic Lecture-Laboratory II (4). Prerequisites: MET 5311, 5420, 5500C; STA 2122. Synoptic calculation and four-dimensional analysis of weather systems.
MET 5510C. Midlatitude Synoptic Scale Systems (4). Prerequisite: MET 4501C or instructor permission. Lecture-laboratory on the structure and dynamics of middle-latitude atmospheric systems.
MET 5511C. Meso-Meteorology Lecture Laboratory (4). Prerequisite: MET 4501C. Structure and dynamics of mesoscale atmospheric systems.
MET 5533. Tropical Meteorology I (3). Prerequisite: MET 4501C. Lecture-laboratory on planetary and synoptic-scale systems of the tropics including hurricanes.
MET 5534. Tropical Meteorology II (3). Prerequisite: MET 4501C. Convection, boundary layer processes, local weather phenomena, mesoscale tropical systems, hurricane structure.
MET 6561r. Advanced Topics in Synoptic Meteorology (3). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
Climatology
MET 5105. Global Climate System (3). Prerequisite: Basic climatology course or instructor permission. Examines global climate system from radioactive and surface exchange processes. Their role in climate dynamics and climatic change is considered.
MET 5135. Dynamic Climatology (3). Prerequisite: Basic climate course or instructor permission. Examination of climatology from both a synoptic and dynamic perspective. Regional climates are studied in the context of prevailing synoptic systems and links with general circulation features. Global patterns of climate and forcing mechanisms of climate variability are described.
MET 6155r. Advanced Topics in Climatology (1–3). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Advanced topics and recent advances in climatology. Content varies covering such areas as climate modeling, physical climatology, dynamic climatology, climate change, and climate and the oceans. May be repeated up to six times to a maximum of eighteen (18) semester hours.
Other Courses
MET 5090r. Applied Time Series Analysis (3). Prerequisites: CGS 3460; MAP 3306; STA 2122. This course analyzes real and complex-valued meteorological and/or oceanographic time series in the frequency and time domains by writing computer programs.
MET 5403C. Meteorological Instruments and Observations (3). Prerequisites: MET 2700; PHY 2048C. Course covers the theory and practice of calibration and operation of basic sensors measurement of temperature, heat flow, fluid flow, pressure and moisture.
MET 5905r. Directed Individual Study (1–3). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of twenty-four (24) semester hours.
MET 5906r. Directed Individual Study (1–3).
MET 5910r. Supervised Research (1–5). (S/U grade only.) Three (3) semester hours are required for a master's degree. May be repeated to a maximum of five (5) semester hours in each of the master's and doctoral programs.
MET 5920r. Colloquium: Topics in Meteorology Research (1). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Reports and discussions in selected topics of meteorology research. May be repeated to a maximum of twenty (20) semester hours.
MET 5930. Master's Seminar (2). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Reports and discussions of meteorological research. All master's degree candidates give an oral presentation and prepare a written report.
MET 5971r. Thesis (1–6). (S/U grade only.) Minimum of six (6) semester hours required.
MET 5979r. Supervised Teaching (1–5). (S/U grade only.) A maximum of three (3) hours may apply toward a master's degree. May be repeated to a maximum of five (5) semester hours in each of the master's and doctoral programs.
MET 6906r. Directed Individual Study (1–3). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of twenty-four (24) semester hours.
MET 6930r. Doctoral Seminar (1). Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Reports and discussions of meteorological research. Doctoral candidates give an oral presentation of their prospectus or dissertation. A minimum of two (2) semester hours is required.
MET 6980r. Dissertation (1–12). (S/U grade only.)
MET 8964r. Preliminary Doctoral Examination (0). (P/F grade only.)
MET 8966r. Master's Comprehensive Examination (0). (P/F grade only.)
MET 8976r. Master's Thesis Defense (0). (P/F grade only.)
MET 8985r. Dissertation Defense (0). (P/F grade only.)
OCP 5271. Turbulence (3). Prerequisite: MET 4301, MET 5311, or OCP 5253. Turbulent transport of momentum and heat; dynamics of turbulence; homogenous isotropic turbulence; wall bounded shear flows; statistical description of turbulence; spectra. Also offered in the Department of Oceanography.
OCP 5551. Physics of the Air-Sea Boundary Layer (3). Prerequisite: MET 4301 or instructor permission. Flux of momentum, heat, and water; study of air-sea interaction mechanism of exchange and budgets. Also offered in the Department of Oceanography.
SCE 5836C. Teaching Earth and Space Science (3). This course examines the pedagogical content knowledge needed to teach earth/space science.