MMet Meteorology and Climate with a year in Oklahoma
BSc Meteorology and Climate
Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere. Knowledge of meteorology allows us to forecast weather events across a range of time scales. It is a vital tool for dealing with some of humankind's biggest environmental challenges such as climate change, ozone depletion and atmospheric pollution.
The Department of Meteorology at Reading is one of the foremost meteorology departments in the world, with research spanning the spectrum from the smallest scales of atmospheric turbulence to the largest scale of climate patterns such as jet streams and El Niño. To fully understand these complex issues, an in-depth scientific knowledge of how the atmosphere works is essential. Our undergraduate programmes aim to give our students the knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional scientist, working in the field of weather and climate or related areas.
Students often choose to study Meteorology and Climate at Reading because they have been fascinated by the weather from an early age, perhaps because of a particular event that they witnessed first hand, or saw in the news. The rigorous scientific nature of our degree programmes provides our students with the knowledge to understand the complex processes that drive the weather events that occur around us all the time, as well as giving appreciation of environmental science in general. Severe thunderstorms, flooding, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes can all be explained in scientific terms, and if these things fascinate you, then enrolling for one of our degrees will take that fascination to a new level.
Our degree programmes also appeal to students with an interest in maths and physics, who see the complexity of the atmosphere as a challenging test for their mathematical and scientific skills. The ability to forecast changes in the weather or climate is a critical test of our ability to understand the world around us, and a great deal of satisfaction can be derived by applying scientific skills to produce a successful forecast.
During Years 1 and 2 the students on our BSc and MMet programmes are taught together studying the same modules which cover the underpinning science of meteorology and climate along with some relevant mathematics and more practical topics such as realtime weather forecasting.
In Year 3 the two programmes split with the MMet students going to our link department in Oklahoma and the BSc students moving onto their final year. Much of this final year is spent doing an independent research project in conjunction with a member of departmental staff. The MMet students in Oklahoma study subjects which are closely related to the weather of the US High Plains regions such as severe storm formation and short-range weather forecasting. Tornado chasing is not a compulsory activity but most of our students who go to Oklahoma take part in this exciting way of experiencing the weather at first hand!
In Part 4, the MMet students have the opportunity to study several modules at Masters level as well as completing their own in-depth research project.
The MMet programme results in a Masters level qualification and so has higher entry requirements. It is an ideal programme for those who think they may be interested in a research or academic career in the Environmental Sciences. It may also act as a 'foot in the door' for those wishing to work or study further in the USA.
What will you study?
Year 1
Introduction to meteorology
Weather and climate fundamentals
Skills for environmental science
Calculus methods
Vectors and matrices
Ordinary and differential equations
Optional modules
Introduction to analysis
Physics of the natural world
Earth structure and processes
Earth materials
Introduction to soil science
Year 2
Surface energy exchange
Atmosphere and ocean dynamics
Atmospheric physics
Numerical methods for environmental science
Skills for graduates
Atmospheric analogues
Differential equations and Fourier series
Optional modules
Earth surface processes
Quaternary global climate change analysis
Weather case studies and forecasting
Soils and soil development
Sustainable land management
Foreign languages
Year 3
A selection of the following modules at the University of Oklahoma
Fall semester
Atmospheric dynamics ii
Synoptic meteorology
Senior seminar
Advanced atmospheric dynamics i
Cloud physics
Atmospheric electrodynamics
Weather forecasting
Spring semester
Mesoscale meteorology
Radar meteorology
Weather forecasting
Advanced synoptic meteorology
Climate dynamics
Weather briefing
Mesoscale modelling
Year 4
Part 4 research project
Boundary layer meteorology
General studies
Optional modules
Oceanography
Atmospheric science field course (Arran)
Forecasting systems and applications
Numerical weather prediction
Global circulation
Climate change
Numerical modelling of the atmosphere and oceans
Extratropical weather systems
Remote sensing
Vegetation, agriculture and the atmosphere
Theory and techniques of data assimilation
Tropical weather systems
Current topics in weather and climate research