BSc Meteorology and Climate

Title:

Calculus

Code:

MA1CA

Convenor:

DR Peter Chamberlain

Summary:

This module covers core topics in calculus.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Linear Algebra

Code:

MA1LA

Convenor:

PROF Paul Glaister

Summary:

This module introduces the mathematics of linearity needed for other modules, and includes various topics in linear algebra.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Introduction to Meteorology

Code:

MT11C

Convenor:

DR Thorwald Stein

Summary:

This module introduces key concepts in atmospheric science, and skills in interpreting meteorological data, and provides an introduction to a wide range of topics in meteorology.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 35%, Practical 40%, Set exercise 25%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Weather and Climate Fundamentals

Code:

MT11D

Convenor:

DR Peter Inness

Summary:

A module combining introductory theory of meteorology, problem solving tutorials and meteorological data analysis.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 20%, Practical 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Skills for Environmental Science

Code:

MT12C

Convenor:

PROF Keith Morrison

Summary:

This module introduces instruments and techniques used to measure meteorological parameters and basic skills in laboratory experimentation, as well as developing skills in computer programming useful in environmental  science.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 34%, Report 66%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Foundations of Mathematics

Code:

MA1FM

Convenor:

DR Jani Virtanen

Summary:

This module introduces fundamental topics in mathematics.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Physics of the Natural World

Code:

PH101

Convenor:

PROF Matt Owens

Summary:

A lecture and tutorial course which covers the physics essential to understanding the natural world, namely classical mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Assignment 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Differential Equations

Code:

MA2DE

Convenor:

DR Peter Sweby

Summary:

In this module, we continue the ODE work of Part 1 and consider more advanced topics such as ODEs with non-constant coefficients, integral and series solutions, Fourier series and the theory of boundary value problems. This is then extended into the study of partial differential equations, in particular the diffusion equation, the wave equation and Laplace’s equation, for which appropriate solution techniques are studied.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

Code:

MT24A

Convenor:

DR Miguel Teixeira

Summary:

This module is an introduction to the fluid dynamics that drives the ocean and atmosphere circulations.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 30%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmospheric Physics

Code:

MT24B

Convenor:

DR Remi Tailleux

Summary:

The fundamental processes in cloud physics and atmospheric radiative transfer.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Numerical Methods for Environmental Science

Code:

MT24C

Convenor:

PROF Paul Williams

Summary:

A module based around computer practicals and lectures, introducing students to numerical algorithms for solving the equations relevant to environmental science.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Climate Change

Code:

MT25G

Convenor:

PROF Bill Collins

Summary:

This module provides an assessment of climate change over the past century and coming century, and its likely causes

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Surface Energy Exchange

Code:

MT26E

Convenor:

MR Alan Grant

Summary:

In this module students will learn how the atmospheric boundary layer responds to surface fluxes. The fundamentals of turbulence and micrometeorology of the surface layer are also introduced.

Assessment Method:

Practical 10%, Report 90%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Statistics for Weather and Climate Science

Code:

MT2SWC

Convenor:

PROF Ted Shepherd

Summary:

A module comprising both a lecture and a practical component, which together introduce students to the use of statistical methods in weather and climate science, and their practical application.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Summer Placement

Code:

MA2SPL

Convenor:

MRS Claire Newbold

Summary:

This module gives students an opportunity to do a work placement, an internship or work shadowing with a work based employer broadly related to the general sphere of their degree studies. Based on the work experience gained, the student will deliver a self-reflective review following feedback from their employer and a poster that they will present at a student and employer networking event.

Assessment Method:

Oral 10%, Project 30%, Report 60%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Vector Calculus

Code:

MA2VC

Convenor:

DR Peter Chamberlain

Summary:

The module involves differentiation of scalar and vector fields by the gradient, Laplacian, divergence and curl differential operators. A number of identities for the differential operators are derived and demonstrated. The module also involves line, surface and volume integrals. Various relationships between differential operators and integration (e.g, Green's theorem in the plane, the divergence and Stoke's theorems) are derived and demonstrated.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Forecasting: practice and presentation

Code:

MT24E

Convenor:

DR Peter Inness

Summary:

This module covers basic forecasting techniques.

Assessment Method:

Oral 60%, Set exercise 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmospheric Analogues

Code:

MT25F

Convenor:

DR David Ferreira

Summary:

In this module the student will have the opportunity to carry out experimental work in the Fluid Dynamics lab, learn data analysis technics (e.g. manipulation of error bars, comparions between theory and observations), and reinforce concepts of geophysical fluid dynamics.

Assessment Method:

Report 70%, Class test 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmospheric Chemistry and Transport

Code:

MT2ACT

Convenor:

PROF Bill Collins

Summary:

This module builds on the first year Global Environmental Chemistry developing the concepts of chemical and physical processing of atmospheric pollutants and their transport in the atmosphere from local to global scales.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Class test 70%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Development of transferable skills through a school placement 1

Code:

ED2TS1

Convenor:

DR Caroline Foulkes

Summary:

This module enables undergraduate students to develop key transferable skills needed for employment, and also provides outreach experience. Following specialist training on key aspects of working in schools, five day placements in June/July in secondary schools in the Reading area will provide work experience in a professional setting.

In the autumn, students will build on the knowledge and transferable skills acquired in order to plan and deliver, with colleagues, a teaching session that shares knowledge of their degree specialism with small groups of school students. Students will reflect on, and share, their experiences with their colleagues. Assessment will be by coursework, and placement supervisor report on professionalism and engagement.

Students will be selected by application and interview.

Please be aware that once the placement has been completed in June it is not possible to switch from this module in the Autumn Term as students have completed practical activities directly relating to 50% of the mark (professionalism and portfolio) and that link to the activities in the Autumn Term.

Assessment Method:

Practical 10%, Oral 50%, Portfolio 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Quaternary Climate and Environmental Change

Code:

GV2QCEC

Convenor:

PROF Nicholas Branch

Summary:

The module is designed to provide an understanding of past climate and environmental changes over the Quaternary (the last 2.6 million years) of Earth’s history. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of long-term climate and environmental change from global to regional-scale perspectives, evaluating a range of proxy records and analytical approaches. The module will also explore the evidence for human modification of the natural environment, and the response of human communities to climate and environmental change. The relationships between climate and environmental change, and human activities, will be investigated using case studies from around the world but with an emphasis on the UK and Ireland. The module will consider the relevance of these scientific data for present day and future environmental conservation and management, and human adaptation to climate change. Using lectures, seminars and laboratory practical classes the module will study proxy records from a range of archives, especially sub-fossil plant and animal remains (e.g. pollen, plant macrofossils, testate amoebae, charcoal, insects and megafauna), and other records of past climate and environmental change. In particular, it will consider the fundamental principles of studying sub-fossil remains, with an emphasis on past vegetation succession, climate change and land-use history. In the field, we will look at issues of site selection, sampling strategies, analytical techniques for both Pleistocene and Holocene remains, archaeological records of human activities, and the causes of landscape and environmental change through time. 

Assessment Method:

Practical 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Part 3 Project

Code:

MT37A

Convenor:

DR Liz Stephens

Summary:

A major piece of independent study, developing oral, report writing, and presentation skills

Assessment Method:

Oral 25%, Dissertation 60%, Project 15%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

General Studies

Code:

MT37B

Convenor:

PROF Suzanne Gray

Summary:

A seminar based module, looking at weather and climate stories which affect the wider world.

Assessment Method:

Exam 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Boundary Layer Meteorology

Code:

MT37L

Convenor:

DR Miguel Teixeira

Summary:

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of how small-scale processes affect the thermodynamic and kinematic structures of the atmospheric boundary layer.

Assessment Method:

Exam 50%, Set exercise 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Summer Placement

Code:

MA3SPL

Convenor:

MRS Claire Newbold

Summary:

This module gives students an opportunity to do a work placement or an internship with a work based employer broadly related to the general sphere of their degree studies. Based on the work experience gained, the student will deliver a self-reflective report following feedback from their employer and link their new and or enhanced skills to University of Reading graduate attributes. Students will present at a student and employer networking event in October 2022 and to academic staff during week 6 of Autumn term in a more formal setting using slides and projector.

Assessment Method:

Oral 40%, Report 60%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Remote Sensing Methods and Applications

Code:

MT37D

Convenor:

PROF Christopher Merchant

Summary:

This module shows how to obtain information about the atmosphere using electromagnetic waves. In the first half of the course, we will consider how absorption, scattering and emission processes can used to quantify various atmospheric properties using satellites and ground-based instruments. In the second half of the course, we will study how radar and lidar instruments provide information about precipitation and clouds.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Dynamics of Weather Systems

Code:

MT37E

Convenor:

DR Chris Holloway

Summary:

Dynamical knowledge of the development of synoptic-scale weather systems in the extra-tropical latitudes and tropical weather systems, particularly tropical cyclones, will be developed in this module.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Oceanography

Code:

MT37F

Convenor:

PROF Keith Haines

Summary:

After presenting the observational evidence for the global ocean circulation, and the in situ and satellite instruments used, the module shows how observed large scale features can be rationalised in terms of simple dynamical theories.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmospheric Science Field Course

Code:

MT37H

Convenor:

DR Tristan Quaife

Summary:

A 5.5 day residential field course in the Lake District. Students participate in a wide range of atmospheric measurements and  exercises.

Assessment Method:

Practical 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Micrometeorology

Code:

MT37P

Convenor:

DR Omduth Coceal

Summary:

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of turbulence in the atmospheric surface layer and to develop practical skills in analysing data and using simple models.

Assessment Method:

Set exercise 50%, Report 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

The Global Circulation

Code:

MT38A

Convenor:

PROF Andrew Charlton-Perez

Summary:

A classroom based module in which students learn how to describe the physical origin of the major dynamical features of the atmospheric circulation.

Assessment Method:

Portfolio 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Climate Change

Code:

MT38B

Convenor:

PROF Bill Collins

Summary:

Climate change over the past century and coming century, and its likely causes.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Set exercise 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Numerical Weather Prediction

Code:

MT38C

Convenor:

PROF Peter Clark

Summary:

In this module we will examine the components that make up a numerical weather forecast.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 50%, Class test 50%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmospheric Electricity

Code:

MT38N

Convenor:

PROF Giles Harrison

Summary:

This module introduces atmospheric electricity in a global context.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 30%, Practical 50%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Atmospheric Spectroscopy

Code:

MT3AS

Convenor:

PROF Keith Shine

Summary:

Molecular spectroscopy as applied to molecules of atmospheric relevance.

Assessment Method:

Exam 70%, Report 30%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Title:

Space Weather

Code:

MT3SW

Convenor:

PROF Mike Lockwood

Summary:

Understanding of the physics that leads to space weather hazards. Description of those hazards and the of the ways that are used to protect ourselves from the risks.

Assessment Method:

Exam 60%, Report 40%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.