LSC Meteorology Current Course List

This page contains the list of courses offered by the Meteorology Department at Lyndon State College. Click on the course title to see the description of the course.

Undergraduate Courses:

MET-1010 Elementary Meteorology

MET-1040 Field Experience

MET-1211 Survey of Meteorology I

MET-1211L Survey of Meteorology I Lab

MET-1212 Survey of Meteorology II

MET-1212L Survey of Meteorology II Lab

MET-1220 Computer Applications in Meteorology

MET-2020 Atmospheric Thermodynamics

MET-2050 Statistical Applications in Meteorology

MET-2060 Climatology

MET-2110 Weather Data and Analysis

MET-3020 Practicum in Forecasting and Broadcasting

MET-3110 Remote Sensing

MET-3130 Environmental Issues in Meteorology

MET-3140 Physical Meteorology

MET-3160 Bio-Meteorology

MET-3220 Physical Oceanography

MET-3230 Aviation Meteorology

MET-3310 Forecasting Applications

MET-3321 Atmospheric Dynamics I

MET-3331 Analysis and Forecasting I

MET-3322 Atmospheric Dynamics II

MET-3332 Analysis and Forecasting II

MET-4010 Television Weathercasting

MET-4020 Tropical Meteorology

MET-4030 Synoptic Climatology

MET-4040 Hydrometeorology

MET-4050 Air Pollution Meteorology

MET-4060 Boundary Layer Meteorology

MET-4110 Numerical Weather Prediction

MET-4120 Mesoscale Meteorology

MET-4711 Seminar in Atmospheric Science I

MET-4712 Seminar in Atmospheric Science II

MET-4713 Seminar in Atmospheric Science III

MET-4720 Special Topics in Meteorology

MET-4820 Internship in Meteorology

MET-4900 Independent Study in Meteorology

MET-1010 (MET 101) Elementary Meteorology [GEU:NS] 4 credits

Elementary Meteorology presents an introduction to meteorology, primarily for the non-science major. The course includes topics such as observing the weather, clouds and precipitation, radiation and weather phenomena, the laws of motion of the atmosphere, the general circulation, air masses and fronts, cyclones and anticyclones, the weather map, and introduction to weather map analysis and interpretation, thermodynamic diagram exercises, and climate-data manipulation. The course requires three one-hour lectures and one two-hour lab period per week. The prerequisite is Basic Math competency (MAT-0210). There is a lab fee. This course is offered every semester.

MET-1040 (MET 107) Field Experience .5-3 credits

This experiential course includes a supervised on-site educational activity at an operational meteorological facility or an on-site instrument usage, data gathering, and data analysis experience as a major component. This course may be repeated when no duplication of experience results. The prerequisite is MET-1010 or MET-1211. There is a lab fee.

MET-1211 (MET 130) Survey of Meteorology I [GEU:NS] 3 credits

This comprehensive course introduces the study of the atmosphere. The course is designed for meteorology and other science-oriented students and includes such topics as the structure of the atmosphere, weather instrumentation, temperature, seasons, humidity, clouds, precipitation, atmospheric stability, optical phenomena, and thunderstorms and tornadoes. The prerequisites are high school physics or PHY-2031, and co-enrollment in MAT-1410 or higher. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-1211L (MET 131) Survey of Meteorology I Lab [GEU:NS] 1 credit

This lab course covers basic weather data acquisition and understanding, in addition to standard introductory weather lab topics. The lab emphasizes hands-on experience and problem solving, and is taught in approximate tandem with the lecture topics in MET-1211. The prerequisites are high school physics or PHY-2031 and co-enrollment in MAT-1410 or higher and co-enrollment in MET-1211. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-1212 (MET 140) Survey of Meteorology II 3 credits

This second semester course continues MET-1211 and builds on the principles learned in that course as a foundation for the exploration and study of such basic weather features as fronts, cyclones, and thunderstorms. The instruction introduces more specialized topics such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and climate. The course is designed for meteorology and other science-oriented students. The prerequisites are MAT-1410 or higher, MET-1211 and MET-1211L. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-1212L (MET 141) Survey of Meteorology II Lab 1 credit

This second semester lab course serves as a continuation of MET-1211L and builds on skills learned in that course for a deeper study of decoding, map analysis and interpretation, and the Met Lab computer use. As in MET-1211L, the instruction places heavy emphasis on the use of real-time data and problem solving. MET-1212L is taught in tandem with the lecture topics presented in MET-1212. This course is designed for meteorology and other science-oriented students. The prerequisites are MET-1211/1211L and co-enrollment in MET-1212. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-1220 (MET 150) Computer Applications in Meteorology 2 credits

This course continues to familiarize students with computer hardware and software used in meteorology. The instruction includes topics such as a pc/work-station in a network environment, spreadsheet and data base basics, McIDAS command mode, WXP menu mode, and UNIX concepts and scripts. The prerequisites are MET-1211 and MET-1211L. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-2020 (MET 210) Atmospheric Thermodynamics 3 credits

This course provides an application of physics and calculus to the study of atmospheric thermodynamics. The course covers such topics as hydrostatics, thermodynamics of dry, moist, and saturated air, and thermodynamic diagrams. The prerequisites are MAT-2532, MET-1211, MET-2110, and the co-requisite is PHY-2042. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-2050 (MET 245) Statistical Applications in Meteorology 3 credits

This course introduces data analysis using meteorological examples and applications. The instruction covers such topics as descriptive statistics, relationship analysis, probability weather forecasting, forecast verification schemes, and analysis of climatological data sets. The prerequisites are MET-1212, MET-1212L and MET 1220. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered fall.

MET-2060 (MET 250) Climatology 3 credits

This course is a comprehensive study of world climates, including regional descriptions, meteorological controls, and influences on societies.  Other topics covered include climate change and analysis and application of climate data sets.  The prerequisites are MAT-1410, MET-1212, MET-1212L, and MET-1220.  There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered spring.

MET-2110 (MET 255) Weather Data and Analysis 2 credits

This course explains all National Weather Service products received in the LSC Met Lab, including DIFAX, McIDAS, and satellite photo data. The instruction allows students to develop analysis/diagnostic techniques and introductory weather forecasting techniques by working with real-time data and numerical models. The course also provides students with an opportunity to begin developing their weather briefing skills. The prerequisites are MET-1212, MET-1212L, MAT-1531 and MET-1220. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-3020 (MET 304) Practicum in Forecasting and Broadcasting 1-4 credits

This course allows advanced students to use modern techniques to prepare forecasts that they broadcast on the college radio station, the "Weather-phone", and the LSC Met Web page. The instruction consists of occasional class meetings and one-on-one critiquing/coaching which develops and improves each student’s descriptive science writing and forecasting ability. The course may be repeated for a total of 4 credits. The prerequisites are MET-2110 and TVS-2110. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every semester.

MET-3110 (MET 315) Remote Sensing 3 credits

The course lecture sessions provide an overview of the operation and performance of various meteorological sensors and platforms, including Doppler radar, wind profilers, balloons and sondes, satellites, aircraft, and ASOS. The laboratory includes the study and use of data and products from meteorological remote sensing systems, including launching a radio-tempsonde and analyzing its data. The prerequisites are MET-1220, MET-3321,MET-3140 and MET-3331. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-3130 (MET 322) Environmental Issues in Meteorology 3 credits

This course offers a study of environmental concerns related to the atmosphere. The course includes such topics as global warming, ozone depletion, acid deposition, urban heat islands, and desertification. The prerequisite is MET-2020. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered fall.

MET-3140 (MET 325) Physical Meteorology 3 credits

Physical Meteorology studies the radiation processes in the earth’s atmosphere, cloud physics, atmospheric optics, atmospheric electricity, and aeronomy. The prerequisites are MET-2020, PHY-2041 and PHY-2042. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-3160 (MET 332) Bio-Meteorology 3 credits

Bio-Meteorology studies the effect of the atmosphere on living organisms. The course includes such topics as weather effects on plants, crops, animals, and humans including Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD). The prerequisite is MET-2020. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every odd-numbered spring.

MET-3220 (MET 335) Physical Oceanography 3 credits

Physical Oceanography provides an overview of oceanography and emphasizes properties of water, waves, tides, currents, upwelling, and air-sea interaction. The prerequisites are MET-2020, PHY-2041 and PHY-2042. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every odd-numbered fall.

MET-3230 (MET 352) Aviation Meteorology 3 credits

The course details all aspects of meteorology related to flight operations including icing, turbulence, low-level wind shear, and low ceilings and visibilities. The instruction includes decoding and interpreting pilot reports. The lab consists of analyzing data for aviation purposes and giving pilot weather briefings and includes visits to FAA Flight Service Stations and Air Route Traffic Control Center. The course is recommended for meteorology majors specializing in forecasting for NWS or USAF and for those going into TV weathercasting. The prerequisite is MET-2020. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered fall.

MET-3310 (MET 375) Forecasting Applications 3 credits

This course offers a daily practicum in site-specific forecasting, using state-of-the-art data products. The instruction allows students to become active participants in exploring the Internet to discover new tools and sources of weather data, in compiling and synthesizing this data, and in developing a consensus forecast. The course may be repeated, but no more than 6 credits can be applied toward graduation. The prequisite is MET-2110. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-3321 (MET 380) Atmospheric Dynamics I 3 credits

This first course in atmospheric dynamics utilizes physics and calculus. The instruction includes such topics as equation of motion on a rotating Earth, balanced flow, kinematics, circulation theorem, conservation of absolute angular momentum, mass continuity, vorticity equation, and wind-pressure imbalance. The prerequisites are MET-2020, MAT-2543 and PHY-2042 and the co-requisite is MET-3331. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-3331 (MET 385) Analysis and Forecasting I 3 credits

This course begins a survey of the entire spectrum of synoptic and meso-scale analysis and forecasting. It is designed to be taken in tandem with Atmospheric Dynamics I, so that the student may see direct applications of the theory learned in that course in addition to learning operational forecasting rules and techniques. The instruction allows students to experience the type of work routinely done by practicing forecasters, with the goal of gaining both a solid grasp of meteorological principles and the ability to produce and communicate sound forecasts. The prerequisite is MET-2110 and the co-requisite is MET-3321. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-3322 (MET 390) Atmospheric Dynamics II 3 credits

This second course in atmospheric dynamics using vectors includes such topics as Rossby waves, quasi-geostrophic theory, and synoptic-scale instability theory. The prerequisite is MET-3321 and the co-requisite is MET-3332. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-3332 (MET 395) Analysis and Forecasting II 3 credits

This course continues a survey of synoptic and meso-scale analysis and forecasting. It is designed to be taken in tandem with Atmospheric Dynamics II, so that the student may see direct applications of the theory learned in that course, in addition to learning operational forecasting rules and techniques. The instruction allows students to experience the type of work routinely done by practicing forecasters directly, while gaining both a solid grasp of meteorological principles and the ability to produce and communicate sound forecasts. The prerequisite is MET-3331 and the co-requisite is MET-3322. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-4010 (MET 405) Television Weathercasting 2 credits

MET-4020 (MET 406) Tropical Meteorology 3 credits

This course provides a study of the tropical atmosphere, including climatology, mean structure and circulation, air-sea energy exchange, cumulus transport, easterly waves and tropical storms. The instruction pays special attention to forecasting the formation, motion and intensity change of hurricanes. The prerequisite is MET-3332. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every odd-numbered fall.

MET-4030 (MET 430) Synoptic Climatology 3 credits

This course provides a climatological study of synoptic features of daily surface and upper-air weather charts, a discussion of the description and causes of typical weather in each region of the U.S. in each season, and applications to weather forecasting. The prerequisites are MET-2020 and MAT-3130. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered fall.

MET-4040 (MET 440) Hydrometeorology 3 credits

This course introduces hydrology with application to the atmosphere and upper one meter of the terrestrial surface. The instruction covers such topics as hydrologic cycle, precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture transfer, surface runoff, flood prediction and mitigation, flash flooding, terrain influence on water flow, drainage basins, and natural and anthropogenic changes to hydrologic cycle. The instruction includes the study of computer models of soil moisture and canopy energy transfer to demonstrate air-soil moisture interactions. The prerequisites is MET-2020. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every odd-numbered spring.

MET-4050 (MET 445) Air Pollution Meteorology 3 credits

This course provides a study of the sources, transport, and forecasting of air pollutants. The instruction covers such topics as types of air pollutants, dispersion, mixing level determination, modeling, and regulations. The prerequisites are CHE-1020 and MET-2020. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered spring.

MET-4060 (MET 455) Boundary Layer Meteorology 3 credits

This course provides a comprehensive study of the atmospheric boundary layer. The instruction features such topics as fluxes of heat, moisture, momentum, and energy, as well as many applications. The prerequisite is MET-2020. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every odd-numbered fall.

MET-4110 (MET 465) Numerical Weather Prediction 3 credits

This comprehensive course focuses on numerical weather prediction.  The instruction covers such topics as the governing equations, numerical methods, history of numerical models in meteorology, initialization, objective analysis, and atmospheric predictability.  The prerequisites are MET-3332. There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every odd-numbered spring.

MET-4120 (MET 470) Mesoscale Meteorology 3 credits

This course provides a comprehensive study of the structure, evolution, and dynamics of atmospheric phenomena having spatial scales between 2 and 2,000 km.  Topics include sea/land/lake breezes, the dryline, coastal fronts, gust fronts, air-mass thunderstorms, multi-cell thunderstorms, supercells, mesoscale convective systems, bow echoes, derechoes, tornadoes, and gravity waves.  Students will study the phenomena through examination of data from a variety of observing platforms, mesoscale models, case studies, and multi-media instructional modules.  The prerequisites are MET-3321 and MET-3331.  There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every even-numbered spring.

MET-4711 (MET 462) Seminar in Atmospheric Science I 0.5 credits

In this course the student refines the skills which will be used extensively in MET-4712 and MET-4713.  Topics include:  1) approaching the large research project; 2) selecting topics and evaluating sources; 3) reviewing, summarizing, and evaluating technical information; and 4) selecting the style and format of technical reports and technical presentations.  Co-requisite:  enrollment in MET-3322 or MET-3332.  This course is offered every spring.

MET-4712 (MET 472) Seminar in Atmospheric Science II 1.5 credits

This course discusses meteorological research methodology and then requires students to research and write a major paper on a topic in the atmospheric sciences.  The prerequisite is MET-4711.  There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every fall.

MET-4713 (MET 482) Seminar in Atmospheric Science III 2 credits

This course provides an opportunity for students to revise and expand the content and style of the report written in MET-4712 into a technical report. The instruction covers the transformation of a technical report into a technical talk and includes the requirement of a presentation based on the paper written in MET-4712.  The prerequisite is MET-4712.  There is a lab fee.  This course is offered every spring.  

This course offers a study of topics of special interest, not extensively treated in regularly scheduled offerings. The prerequisite is permission.

MET-4820 (MET 499) Internship in Meteorology 1-15 credits

This cooperative education course provides college credit for field placement with a commercial, governmental, or non-profit organization and is designed to provide the student with experience in practical application of theories and principles learned in the classroom. The work experience must be approved in advance by the department, the employer, and the college Cooperative Education Office. See also the section on Cooperative Education elsewhere in this catalog.

MET-4900 (MET 490) Independent Study in Meteorology 1-3 credits

This course allows students to select a topic or project in meteorology for detailed independent or directed study under the supervision of a department faculty member. The prerequisite is permission.