MT4SBL: Surface and Boundary Layer Meteorology

Module code: MT4SBL

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 4 (Undergraduate Masters)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Tristan Quaife, email: t.l.quaife@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Omduth Coceal, email: o.coceal@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE MT3SBL (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of how small-scale processes, including turbulence and surface energy exchange, affect the thermodynamic and kinematic structures of the atmospheric boundary layer and its various sub-layers, and develop practical skills in analysing data and using simple models. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe in physical and mathematical terms important atmospheric flow phenomena on horizontal scales less than about 10 km, and the way in which these are influenced by the Earth's surface and its overlying atmosphere. 
2. Demonstrate a physical understanding of energy exchange processes in the surface layer and perform relevant calculations. 
3. Analyse and interpret data from field measurements and numerical simulations of flow, energy balance and scalar exchange processes.
4. Relate the results of the data analyses to micrometeorological and boundary layer theory and simple models. 

Module content

The content covers conceptual and mathematical modelling and data analysis on: 

• Boundary layer types and structure 
• Temporal evolution of the boundary layer 
• Surface energy balance and exchanges 
• Reynolds averaging and statistical analysis of turbulence 
• Turbulence in the boundary layer and turbulent fluxes 
• Similarity theories of the boundary layer 
• Surface layer, roughness sublayer and canopy layer 
• Boundary layer over the ocean and air - sea interaction 
• Flow over heterogeneous surfaces 
• The boundary layer in NWP and climate models 
• Urban meteorology and dispersion of pollution 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Theoretical material will be presented in 20 50-minute lectures. 20 hours of tutorial sessions will be used to practise answering questions on that material. 6 hours of PC lab practicals will develop skills necessary to complete the set exercise. Discussions and Q&A will be an integral part of the tutorial sessions. 2 hours will be used for revision sessions. 

Study hours

At least 42 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Unassessed problem sheets discussed in the tutorial sessions and formative tasks on data analysis in the PC lab practicals. Feedback provided during those sessions. 

Reassessment

Additional costs