MTMA32-Measurements and Instrumentation

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Giles Harrison
Email: r.g.harrison@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module will develop knowledge of theoretical and practical issues when considering measurement and instrumentation in environmental science.

Aims:
This module will develop knowledge of theoretical and practical issues when considering measurement and instrumentation in environmental science.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module the student should be able to:

• describe and critically compare the characteristics of various standard meteorological instruments used for surface and upper-air measurement of atmospheric parameters;


• demonstrate a knowledge of experimental data analysis, including calibration and the analysis of sampling errors;


• report the results of experimental work in an appropriate, formal style, characteristic of scientific literature.

Additional outcomes:
Students will enhance their skills in team working, handling and operating scientific equipment, data analysis, computing and report writing.

Outline content:

The lecture content covers:

• Fundamentals of instrumentation;


• Theory and practice of experimental data analysis;


• Measurement techniques for air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure, rainfall, solar and terrestrial radiation and upper air sounding.

The practical content involves carrying out set experiments selected from the following:

• Time response of a thermometer;


• Thermometer calibration;


• Humidity measurements;


• Characteristics of a propeller anemometer;


• Calibration of a radiosonde pressure element;


• Absolute calibration of a net radiometer;


• Ventilation effects on psychrometry;

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures; laboratory classes, discussion classes and group experiments.

Reading lists for meteorology modules are available here https://reading.rl.talis.com/departments/mps_met.htmlhttps://reading.rl.talis.com/departments/mps_met.html

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10
Practicals classes and workshops	9
Guided independent study:	81
Total hours by term	100	0	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	50
Practical skills assessment	25
Class test administered by School	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

The assessment for this module consists of three assessed practical classes (totalling 25%), a multi-choice test (25%) and an written assignment (the remaining 50%):

 

• The practical classes are three-hour sessions during which students undertake an experiment to calibrate various types of meteorological instruments. These are each assessed from students' contemporary notes, data analysis and a written summary (in the form of a journal abstract) of the experiment and its key results and conclusions.


• The multi-choice test will examine students’ knowledge of the content discussed in lectures.


• The written assignment requires the student to take one of the experiments and write it up in an extended form, in the style of a full academic journal paper.  The requirements for this write up are;


• It must be word-processed (one and a half line spacing; 12 point; 1” margins on A4) and take the appearance of a short scientific paper, such as a Note published in the American Institute of Physics journal Review of Scientific Instruments. The Formal Report must include the following sections: •Title •Abstract (not more than 200 words), •Introduction •Experimental method •Results •Conclusions (or Discussion). Relevant data extracted from the original notes must be included in the report, but may be in an Appendix. The report (excluding appendices) must be not more than 10 pages long, including (reasonably sized) figures and tables.

Formative assessment methods:

Practical Skills assessment. Verbal feedback given on experimental technique and data analysis.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

For candidates who have failed, an opportunity to resubmit the extended formal report will be provided within the lifetime of the course.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 1 November 2022