MTMFWC: Fundamentals of Weather and Climate

Module code: MTMFWC

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

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor Maarten Ambaum, email: m.h.p.ambaum@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

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

The atmosphere is one of the most complex physical systems studied in modern science. In this module we will learn about some of the fundamental underlying physical principles and how they help us understand and predict weather and climate. In the module we will cover the thermodynamical principles that govern the nature of weather and weather systems as well as the physical principles of climate and climate change. Students will engage with this module through lectures, problem classes, a field trip, and presentations. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Have acquired substantial knowledge of fundamentals of weather and climate 
2. Apply quantitative physical principles to topics in weather and climate 
3. Describe weather systems, their evolution, and the underlying physical processes, as well as fundamentals of climate and climate change and the underlying physical processes 
4. Apply knowledge of physical principles to observations and measurements in the field 

Module content

The module will cover, in parallel, physical fundamentals and more applied analysis of 

• The large-scale structure of the atmosphere 
• Thermodynamic properties of air masses 
• Airmasses, fronts, conceptual cyclone models for weather 
• Vertical structure, stability, and convection 
• Clouds and rain formation 
• Atmospheric radiation, including basics of satellite and radar imagery 
• Climate, climate forcings, and climate change 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Concepts and theories will be introduced and presented in a series of weekly lectures which focus on various applied concepts and problems in weather and climate on the one hand, and the fundamental physics required to understand these concepts and problems on the other hand. The learning will be consolidated and applied using practical tasks as well as problem classes. Earlier in the term a field trip will provide hands on experience of weather as well as discussing physical properties of weather. 

Study hours

At least 83 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.

Field trip activities presentation.

Reassessment

Additional costs