Meteorology (Mteor)

200 | 300 | 400 | Graduate Courses

Courses primarily for undergraduate students

Mteor 111. Synoptic Applications. (1-0) Cr. 1 each time taken. F.S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in Math 165. Current weather discussions and introduction to synoptic-scale interpretation of meteorology. Application and use of calculus in meterology. Course restricted to majors. Others with permission of instructor.

Mteor 201. Introductory Seminar. (1-0) Cr. R. F. An overview of the atmospheric sciences, the meteorology program at Iowa State, and the major research journals used in the discipline.

Mteor 206. Introduction to Meteorology. (Same as Agron 206.) (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Basic concepts in meteorology, including atmospheric measurements, radiation, stability, precipitation, winds, fronts, forecasting, and severe weather. Applied topics include global warming, ozone depletion, world climates, weather safety, and atmospheric optics.

Mteor 265. Scientific Balloon Engineering and Operations. (Same as Aer E 265.) See Aerospace Engineering.

Mteor 298. Cooperative Education. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of the department cooperative education coordinator; sophomore classification. Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing the work period.

Mteor 301. General Meteorology I. (4-0) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: Math 166, credit or enrollment in Phys 222. Global distribution of temperature, wind, and atmospheric constituents; atmospheric thermodynamics, radiative transfer, global energy balance, storms and clouds, introductory dynamics. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 306. Use of Weather Data in Agriculture. (Same as Agron 306.) See Agronomy. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 311. Introduction to Synoptic Meteorology. (1-2) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: 301. Concepts of weather map plotting and analysis. Introduction to forecasting and to the use of real-time UNIDATA computer products. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 321. Meteorology Internship. Cr. 1 or 2 each time taken, maximum of 3 cr. F.S.SS. Prereq: 311; junior or senior standing; permission of co-op program coordinator; acceptance by sponsoring agency. Supervised practical experience in a professional meteorological agency. Experiences may include providing weather information for radio, TV, utilities, government agencies, construction, or agribusiness.

Mteor 324. Energy and the Environment. (Same as Env S 324, Geol 324.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Origin, occurrence, and extraction of fossil fuels. Nuclear, wind, and solar energy. Energy efficiency. Environmental effects of energy production and use, including air pollution, acid precipitation, groundwater contamination, nuclear waste disposal, and global climate change. Does not count toward credits required in the Meteorology major.

Mteor 341. Atmospheric Physics I. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Phys 222, credit or enrollment in Math 266. Basic laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamics of water vapor, mixtures of gases, stability, hydrostatics, cloud physics. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 342. Atmospheric Physics II. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 341. Precipitation physics, radar, atmospheric radiation, atmospheric optics, atmospheric electricity. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 398. Cooperative Education. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of the department cooperative education coordinator; junior classification. Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing the work period.

Mteor 404. Global Change. (Dual-listed with 504; same as Agron 404, EnSci 404, Env S 404.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Four courses in physical or biological sciences or engineering; junior standing. Recent changes in global biogeochemical cycles and climate; models of future changes in the climate system; impacts of global change on agriculture, water resources and human health; ethical issues of global environmental change. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 406. Climates of the Continents. (Same as Agron 406, EnSci 406.) See Agronomy. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 407. Mesoscale Meteorology. (Dual-listed with 507; same as Agron 407.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Math 166 and Mteor 454. Physical nature and practical consequences of mesoscale atmospheric phenomena. Mesoscale convective systems, fronts, terrain-forced circulations. Observations, analysis, and prediction of mesoscale phenomena. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 411. Synoptic Meteorology. (Dual-listed with 511.) (1-4) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 454. Current weather forecasting and discussion. Applications of atmospheric physics and dynamics in real-time weather situations. Use of UNIDATA computer products. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 417. Mesoscale Forecasting Laboratory. (Dual-listed with 517.) (1-5) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 411. Real-time computer analysis of current weather, with emphasis on small-scale features. Studies of severe weather, lake-effect snow, CSI, cold-air damming. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 432. Instrumentation and Measurements. (Dual-listed with 532.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in Stat 105, Math 266, Phys 222. Measurement of meteorological variables and instruments used, including surface, upper air, and remote sensors; measurement errors, signal processing, recording and archiving; quality assurance. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 443. Dynamic Meteorology I. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 341. Conservation laws, governing equations, circulation and vorticity. Development of quasi-geostrophic theory. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 454. Dynamic Meteorology II. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 443. Planetary boundary layer, linear perturbation theory, atmospheric wave motions, baroclinic and convective instability, mesoscale circulations. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 455. General Circulation/Advanced Dynamics. (Dual-listed with 555.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 454. Numerical simulation of fundamental physical laws applied to weather and climate processes. General circulation theory including energy, water and momentum balances. Forecast and analysis systems with emphasis on their utility to end users. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Mteor 471. History of Modern Meterology. (Dual-listed with 571.) (1-0) Cr. 1. Alt. S., offered 2006. Prereq: Mteor 341, 342, 411, 443, 455. Development of meteorological theories and numerical weather prediction, discoveries of important meteorological phenomena, and impact of weather and climate on important historical events.

Mteor 480. Studies in Oceanography. Cr. var., 1 to 8 each time taken. Repeatable. Courses taken at Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and other marine biological stations are transferred to Iowa State University under this number.

Mteor 490. Independent Study. Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: 6 credits in meteorology, permission of instructor. No more than 9 credits in Mteor 490 may be counted
toward graduation.
A. Synoptic Meteorology.
B. Dynamic Meteorology.
C. Physical Meteorology.
D. Instrumentation.

Mteor 498. Cooperative Education. Cr. R. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of the department cooperative education coordinator; senior classification. Required of all cooperative education students. Students must register for this course prior to commencing each work period.

Mteor 499. Senior Research. (2-0) Cr. 2. F. Required of all senior meteorology majors. Research projects in collaboration with faculty. Written and oral presentations of results at the end of the semester.

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduate students

Mteor 504. Global Change. (Dual-listed with 404; same as Agron 504, EnSci 504.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Four courses in physical or biological sciences or engineering; junior, senior, or graduate standing. Recent changes in global biogeochemical cycles and climate; models of future changes in the climate system; impacts of global change on agriculture, water resources and human health; ethical issues of global environmental change.

Mteor 505. Biometeorology. (Same as Agron 505.) See Agronomy.

Mteor 507. Mesoscale Meteorology. (Dual-listed with 407; same as Agron 507.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Math 166 and Mteor 454. Physical nature and practical consequences of mesoscale atmospheric phenomena. Mesoscale convective systems, fronts, terrain-forced circulations. Observations, analysis, and prediction of mesoscale phenomena.

Mteor 511. Synoptic Meteorology. (Dual-listed with 411.) (1-4) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 454. Current weather forecasting and discussion. Applications of atmospheric physics and dynamics in real-time weather situations. Use of UNIDATA computer products.

Mteor 517. Mesoscale Forecasting Laboratory. (Dual-listed with 417.) (1-5) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in 411. Real-time computer analysis of current weather, with emphasis on small-scale features. Studies of severe weather, lake-effect snow, CSI, cold-air damming.

Mteor 532. Instrumentation and Measurements. (Dual-listed with 432.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Credit or enrollment in Stat 105, Math 266, Phys 222. Measurement of meteorological variables and instruments used, including surface, upper air, and remote sensors; measurement errors, signal processing, recording and archiving; quality assurance.

Mteor 542. Physical Meteorology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2005. Prereq: 342, Math 266, Phys 222. Planetary atmospheres, radiative equilibrium models, radiative transfer, the upper atmosphere, remote sounding from satellites.

Mteor 543. Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2006. Prereq: 455. The first half of a two semester sequence. Governing equations, scale analysis, simple types of wave motion in the atmosphere, instability theory.

Mteor 544. Advanced Dynamic Meteorology II. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2007. Prereq: 543. Continuation of 543. General circulation and dynamics of zonally symmetric circulations, atmospheric energetics, nonlinear dynamics of planetary waves

Mteor 555. General Circulation/Advanced Dynamics. (Dual-listed with 455.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 454. Numerical simulation of fundamental physical laws applied to weather and climate processes. General circulation theory including energy, water and momentum balances. Forecast and analysis systems with emphasis on their utility to end users.

Mteor 561. Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2005. Prereq: 455 or E M 378 or M E 335 or Phys 361. Basic concept of rotating fluid dynamics, governing equations and boundary conditions, dynamics of vorticity, potential vorticity and geostrophic motion, wave motion in a rotating system, dynamics of Ekman and Stewartson layers, ocean circulation.

Mteor 571. History of Modern Meterology. (Dual-listed with 471.) (1-0) Cr. 1. Alt. S., offered 2006. Prereq: Mteor 341, 342, 411, 443, 455. Development of meteorological theories and numerical weather prediction, discoveries of important meteorological phenomena, and impact of weather and climate on important historical events.

Mteor 590. Special Topics. Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Topics of current interest.
A. Boundary-layer Meteorology
B. Tropical Meteorology
C. Mesoscale Meteorology
D. Global Climate Systems
E. Climate Modeling
F. Numerical Weather Prediction
G. Satellite Observations
H. Statistical Methods in Meteorology
I. Field Observations
J. Low Frequency Modes
K. Cloud Physics
L. Atmospheric Radiation

Courses for Graduate students

Mteor 605. Micrometeorology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2005. Prereq: 443. Atmospheric boundary layer, structure and dynamics. Turbulence, soil influences, measurements and empirical relations for wind and temperature profiles near the ground. Simulation of boundary layer structure and dynamics.

Mteor 699. Research. Cr. var.