Advanced Topics in Weather Forecasting
This syllabus is divided into several sections. You can read it sequentially by scrolling down the length of the document or by clicking on any of the links below to jump to a specific section. That being said, it is essential that you read the entire document, as well as material covered in the course orientation. Together these serve the role of our course contract.
- Instructor
- Technical Assistance
- Course Overview
- Required Course Materials
- Assignments and Grading
- Course Schedule
- Course Policies
Instructor
Ben Reppert
Lecturer
Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
The Pennsylvania State University
428 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
Note:
Most communication between instructor and students is reserved for Piazza discussions (academic and technical issues) and Canvas email (personal issues). For more details, please read Communication under Course Orientation.Technical Assistance
If you're studying the course content in METEO 410, and encounter a lesson page with a broken link, or you have trouble viewing one of the animations or images, feel free to post a question in the appropriate discussion forum in Piazza. I'll do my best to determine the cause of the problem and get it fixed.
However, if you're having trouble with Canvas (sending a Canvas email, submitting an assignment, etc.),please use the Help button located in the left banner of the Canvas environment. You will notice that there are several options. First, I would try the Canvas Guides (they are an excellent resource). However, if you still are stuck, use the "Report a Problem for World Campus Courses" option to contact the Outreach Helpdesk. When describing your issue, try to be as specific as you possibly can. Include information such as:
- indicate the specific part of Canvas you're having trouble with, what you attempted to do when that failed, and the exact language of any error message displayed on your screen;
- the date and time when your problem occurred;
- any other pertinent information (does the problem happen consistently and always in the same way, etc.).
Alternatively, you can contact the Helpdesk directly in a variety of ways:
The Outreach Helpdesk
wdtechsupport@outreach.psu.edu
http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/technical-support
(800) 252-3592, option #4
(814) 865-0047
Hours of Operation:
- 08:00 A.M. till 12:00 Midnight ET, Monday through Friday
- 10:00 A.M. till 7:00 P.M. ET, Saturday and Sunday
Course Overview
METEO 410: ADVANCED TOPICS IN WEATHER FORECASTING (3 credits) - Exploring highly specialized topics and techniques in weather forecasting that span from mesoscale to planetary spatial scales, and short-term to long-range time scales.
Prerequisites: METEO 101, METEO 241, and METEO 361
Students who do not meet these prerequisites may be disenrolled during the first 10-day free add-drop period after being informed in writing by the instructor. If you have not completed the listed prerequisites, then promptly consult with the instructor, if you have not done so already. Students who reenroll after being disenrolled, according to this policy are in violation of Item 15 on the Student Code of Conduct.
METEO 410 is the capstone course in Penn State's online program that confers a Certificate of Achievement in Weather Forecasting. It is offered every semester, Fall (August - December) and Spring (January - May).
METEO 410 is designed for adult students seeking a Certificate of Achievement in Weather Forecasting. The course will review and expand upon major topics and themes in its prerequisite courses, and it will emphasize the application of conceptual models and advanced forecasting strategies in making deterministic weather forecasts. Student participation in the national collegiate weather forecasting competition, WxChallenge, is required and will be the foundation of various types of course assessment. The course lessons, activities, and assignments have been developed with the following objectives and outcomes in mind.
Objectives for METEO 410
- Students will demonstrate the ability to produce real-time forecasts of a variety of weather variables for atmospheric systems that span the mesoscale to the planetary scale.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to use the output from numerical weather prediction models to guide the creation of short-term weather forecasts.
Outcomes for METEO 410
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the Norwegian cyclone model and its use as a conceptual framework for the creation of a weather forecast.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the roles of both the upper-level flow (e.g., the jet stream) and the thermodynamic structure in determining the expected evolution of the atmosphere at various locations.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of orographic influences on precipitation.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to use dynamic, statistical, and ensemble numerical forecasts of the atmosphere to diagnose quantitatively the likely atmospheric conditions at a specific location.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to create and disseminate, in a timely fashion, a useful weather forecast based on current observations and numerical forecasts of the atmosphere.
What I expect of you
On average, most successful students will likely spend at least 8-10 hours each week completing assigned readings and other exercises. The workload may be a bit more or less depending on prior experience with computing and the web, and with meteorology in particular. During roughly the first half of the course, the most time will be spent covering the lesson material and completing the corresponding assignments. During the second half of the course, most of the time will be spent preparing and submitting forecasts for WxChallenge, and participating in the accompanying discussion and assignments.
The Internet might still be a novel learning environment for you, but in one sense it is no different than a traditional college class: how much and how well you learn is ultimately up to you. You will succeed if you are diligent about keeping up with the class schedule, and if you take advantage of opportunities to communicate with me, as well as with your fellow students. It's important to log into the course at least three times a week (on different days) in order to check your course email, class discussions, and any course announcements that I've posted.
Required Course Materials
All materials needed for this course are presented in our course space in Canvas. In order to take this course, you need to have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password (used to access the online course resources). If you have any questions about obtaining or activating your Penn State Access Account, please contact the World Campus.
Assignments and Grading
Five components will comprise your final grade in METEO 410:
- Lesson Quizzes: 10%
- Lab Exercises and WxChallenge City Climatologies: 30%
- Your standing in each of the final 3 WxChallenge cities: 20%
- 3 Post-Mortem Assignments: 30%
- Class Participation: 10%
You can find more information about these three types of assessment in Your Assessment in the Course Orientation material.
Overall course grades will be determined as follows. Percentages refer to the proportion of all possible points earned. Be aware that the cutoff for a 'C' in this course is higher than in previous courses in this program.
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 92% and higher |
| A- | 90-91% |
| B+ | 87-89% |
| B | 82-86% |
| B- | 80-81 |
| C+ | 78-79% |
| C | 72-77% |
| D | 67-71% |
| F | less than 67% |
Final grades may be curved at the instructor's discretion, based on overall class performance.
METEO 410 Course Schedule
Printable Schedule| Time Block | Lesson | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|
| January 2 - 5 | Course Orientation |
|
|
January 6 - 12 |
Lesson 1 |
|
| January 13 - 19 |
Lesson 2 Finish familiarizing yourself with the WxChallenge format and rules Submit test forecast at the WxChallenge site |
|
| January 20 - 26 |
Lesson 3 WxChallenge begins January 22: City 1, Week 1 (ungraded) |
|
| January 27 - February 2 |
Lesson 4 WxChallenge City 1, Week 2 (ungraded) |
|
| February 3 - 9 |
Lesson 5 WxChallenge City 2, Week 1 (ungraded) |
|
| February 10 - 18 |
Lesson 6 WxChallenge City 2, Week 2 (ungraded) Optional practice discussion (to prepare you for graded forecast briefing discussions in Piazza) |
|
| February 19 - March 3 |
WxChallenge City 3, Weeks 1 and 2 (graded) Participate in forecast discussions in Piazza |
|
| March 4 - 17 |
WxChallenge City 4, Weeks 1 and 2 (graded) Participate in forecast discussions in Piazza Post-Mortem 1 |
|
| March 18 - March 29 |
WxChallenge City 5, Weeks 1 and 2 (graded) Post-Mortem 2 |
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| March 30 - April 5 | Post-Mortem 3 |
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| April 6 - 12 | "Lesson 7" (optional readings on medium- and long-range forecasting) |
|
Course Policies
Technical Requirements
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the IT Service Desk (for World Campus students) or Penn State's IT Help Portal (for students at all other campus locations).
Internet Connection
Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.
Mixed Content
This site is considered a secure web site, which means that your connection is encrypted. We do, however, link to content that isn't necessarily encrypted. This is called mixed content. By default, mixed content is blocked in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. This may result in a blank page or a message saying that only secure content is displayed. Follow the directions on our Technical Requirements page to view the mixed content.
Penn State E-mail Accounts
All official communications from Penn State are sent to students' Penn State e-mail accounts. Be sure to check your Penn State account regularly, or forward your Penn State e-mail to your preferred e-mail account, so you don't miss any important information.
Academic Integrity
This course follows the procedures for academic integrity of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Penn State defines academic integrity as "the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner." Academic integrity includes "a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation, or deception." In particular, the University defines plagiarism as "the fabrication of information and citations; submitting others' work from professional journals, books, articles, and papers; submission of other students' papers, lab results or project reports and representing the work as one's own." Penalties for violations of academic integrity may include course failure. To learn more, see Penn State's Academic Integrity Training for Students.
Course Copyright
All course materials students receive or to which students have online access are protected by copyright laws. Students may use course materials and make copies for their own use as needed, but unauthorized distribution and/or uploading of materials without the instructor’s express permission is strictly prohibited. University Policy AD 40, the University Policy Recording of Classroom Activities and Note Taking Services addresses this issue. Students who engage in the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials may be held in violation of the University’s Code of Conduct, and/or liable under Federal and State laws.
For example, uploading completed labs, homework, or other assignments to any study site constitutes a violation of this policy.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities. The Office for Student Disability Resources website provides contact information for Campus Disability Coordinators at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the Office for Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled. You will participate in an intake interview and provide documentation. See documentation guidelines at Applying for Services from Student Disability Resources. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Change in Normal Campus Operations
In case of weather-related delays or other emergency campus disruptions or closures at the University, this online course will proceed as planned. Your instructor will inform you if there are any extenuating circumstances regarding content or activity due dates in the course due to these delays or closures. If you are affected by a weather-related emergency, please contact your instructor at the earliest possible time to make special arrangements.
Reporting Educational Equity Concerns
Penn State takes great pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated (Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance) and can be reported through Educational Equity via Report Bias.
Counseling and Psychological Services
Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional well-being. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Services include the following:
Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS): 814-863-0395
Counseling Services at Commonwealth Campuses
Penn State Crisis Line (24 hours/7 days/week): 877-229-6400
Crisis Text Line (24 hours/7 days/week): Text LIONS to 741741
Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Connect Online with Caution
Penn State is committed to educational access for all. Our students come from all walks of life and have diverse life experiences. As with any other online community, the lack of physical interaction in an online classroom can create a false sense of anonymity and security. While one can make new friends online, digital relationships can also be misleading. Good judgment and decision-making are critical when choosing to disclose personal information to others whom you do not know.
Attendance
This course will be conducted entirely online. There will be no set class meeting times, but you will be required to complete weekly assignments with specific due dates. Many of the assignments are open for multiple days, so it is your responsibility to complete the work early if you plan to travel or participate in national holidays, religious observances or University approved activities.
If you need to request an exception due to a personal or medical emergency, contact the instructor directly as soon as you are able. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Deferred Grades
If you are prevented from completing this course within the prescribed amount of time for reasons that are beyond your control, it is possible to have the grade deferred with the concurrence of the instructor, following Penn State Deferred Grade Policy 48-40. To seek a deferred grade, you must submit a written request (by e-mail or U.S. post) to the instructor describing the reason(s) for the request. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested before the beginning of the final examination period. It is up to the instructor to determine whether or not you will be permitted to receive a deferred grade. If permission is granted, you will work with the instructor to establish a communication plan and a clear schedule for completion within policy. If, for any reason, the coursework for the deferred grade is not complete by the assigned time, a grade of "F" will be automatically entered on your transcript.
Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect
Penn State is “committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain an environment that fosters respect for others” as stated in Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive environment and to interact with civility.
For additional information, see:
- Penn State Affirmative Action Nondiscrimination Statement
- Policy AD 85 Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment and Misconduct, Title IX
- Penn State Values
- Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn State
- Assessment of the Living, Learning, and Working Environment (ALLWE) in EMS| Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Mandated Reporting Statement
Penn State’s policies require me, as a faculty member, to share information about incidents of sex-based discrimination and harassment (discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation) with Penn State’s Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators, regardless of whether the incidents are stated to me in person or shared by students as part of their coursework. For more information regarding the University's policies and procedures for responding to reports of sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, please visit Penn State's Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response website.
Additionally, I am required to make a report on any reasonable suspicion of child abuse in accordance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law.
Disclaimer
Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus can be changed at any time, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. All changes will be communicated to you via e-mail, course announcement and/or course discussion forum.