Course Outlines - Meteorology
Entry-Level Technician
This course for observers is intended to provide basic meteorological knowledge and practice in weather observing procedures and in the plotting of synoptic and aviation reports. On completion of the course participants are expected to:
Be familiar with the procedures and rules governing the coding and recording of different weather elements
Accurately code, decode and plot synoptic and aviation reports
Plot data on surface synoptic charts, upper air charts and thermodynamic diagrams.
Extract hourly and daily data, and tabulate these data on climatological forms.
Determine when meteorological instruments are functioning properly
Topics covered in this course are:
Meteorological instruments and observing practices
Meteorological codes
Aeronautical practices and procedures
General meteorology
Map plotting
Meteorological telecommunications
Introduction to Agrometeorology
Mid-Level Technician
This course is intended for experienced observers who are expected to supervise and instruct Entry-level technicians and assist higher level personnel with the processing of data and in the preparation of meteorological and other information. Graduates are expected to:
Have a thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations governing the observing, recording and use of meteorological and other data
Quality control data and complete simple statistical and other analysis of the data
Prepare summaries and reports of the analysed data
Assist with field and other experiments in the areas of specialisation
Inspect and set-up weather observation sites
Maintain, repair and calibrate relevant meteorological instruments
Topics covered in this course are:
Climatology
Introduction to climatology
Physical climatology
Applied climatology
Climate classification and climate change
Bioclimatiology
Agrometeorology
Biological observations, phenology, and meteorological observations
Plants in their environment
Radiation and plants
Photosynthesis
Soil physics
Evaporation and evapotranspiration
Meteorological crop hazards and their protection
Animals in their environment
Operational Radar
Radar frequencies
Electromagnetic wave characteristics
Radarscope presentations
Radar equation
Radar propagation
Target distortion and interpretation
Radar observation practices
Instrument Maintenance and Repair
Review of instruments and observations
Electricity
Electronics
Principles of meteorological instruments
Technical practices
Safety and security precaution
Aeronautical Meteorology
Meteorological observations for aircraft operations
Meteorological services for operators and ATS units
Meteorological aspects of flight planning
Technical publications and regulations
Aeronautical telecommunications
Preparation of flight documentation
Senior-Level Technician
Graduates of this course are expected to:
Know and understand the main physical and dynamical processes and phenomena associated with weather at all scales
Analyze and interpret synoptic weather charts and diagrams depicting current weather conditions.
Identify the physical and dynamical processes creating the weather conditions and be able to predict what conditions will evolve from the effects of these processes
Interpret and use NWP products in the prediction of the weather
Interpret satellite imagery and use these in analysis and forecasting
Prepare terminal and other forecasts for aviation and prepare documentation for use in flight planning and aircraft movement
Know the weather conditions which are hazardous to the movement of aircraft and be able to predict these conditions
Familiar with the relevant ICAO and WMO standards, recommended practices and codes relating to aviation
Topics covered in this course are:
Basic physics
Mathematics
- Differential and integral calculus
- Vector analysis
- Elementary differential equations
Elementary statistics
Atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud physics
Heat balance of the earth-atmosphere system
Dynamics of motion systems
- The conservation laws
- Circulation and vorticity equations
- The planetary boundary layer
Introduction to numerical weather prediction
The general circulation
Synoptic meteorology of mid-latitude systems
Synoptic systems in the tropics
Interpretation of satellite imagery
Elementary principles of radar
Aeronautical meteorology
Interpretation and operational use of numerical weather prediction products in weather analysis
Preparation of aviation forecasts and documentation; briefings
Preparation of local and regional forecasts
Applications of Meteorology
This course provides personnel with:
Skills in statistical analysis of meteorological and hydrological data
Techniques and use of software in agrometeorological and hydrological operation and research
An understanding of the link between the atmospheric and soil physical environments and agricultural production
Meteorologist
This is a three-year programme offered by the University of the West Indies in association with the CIMH.
Topics covered in this course are:
Year 1
The atmosphere and the oceans
Weather systems, climate and the environment
Year 2
Physical meteorology
Introductory dynamic meteorology
Mid-latitude synoptic meteorology
Year 3
Advanced dynamic meteorology
Advanced synoptic meteorology
Tropical meteorology
Special topics
- Radar and satellite meteorology
- Agrometeorology, climatology, hydrology
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