MTMWCD: Weather and Climate Discussion

Module code: MTMWCD

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

Credits: 0

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Suzanne Gray, email: s.l.gray@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: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

A seminar based module looking at weather and climate issues of both local and global importance. 

This module aims to encourage awareness of the current weather and recent world-wide climate events, and the behaviour short-term (typically up to 5-day) weather forecasts, through an informal meeting that is open to all members of the department (staff and students).

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the range of global weather events and their social and environmental impacts.
2. Explain the key features, interpretation, accuracy and limitations of operational weather forecasts and analyses, with a focus on the UK.
3. Describe how climate is changing and is predicted to change, and the evidence for this.
4. Relate current weather and climate behaviour to material learnt in assessed modules.

Module content

All MSc students are expected to attend the weekly Weather and Climate discussions held during both semesters. The sessions are hosted by teaching or research staff in the department who prepare the majority of the material shown. A typical session will begin with a review of the previous week’s weather, both locally and globally, then include a focus on a particular weather event or other relevant material (e.g., the latest data on global warming), and finish with a look at the weather forecasts for the following week. The data used typically includes data from the Met Office and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Discussion and debate are welcome. Normally, a Weather Forecasting Game is held in conjunction with 'WCD' to forecast various aspects of European weather. Valuable prizes can be won and immeasurable prestige can be gained (and lost)!

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Short presentations on and discussions of topics of current interest by staff, and occasionally students. Briefing of the latest short and medium range weather forecasts. 

Study hours

At least 24 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

There is no assessment on this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

There is no assessment on this module.

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.

Reassessment

Additional costs