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CLIMATE SCIENCE II - Weather Prediction BSC309

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

Online Course

The Science of Weather Forecasting

  • Developed and tutored by our team of environmental, agricultural and horticultural scientists including John Mason Dip.Hort.Sc.,FCIH; Dr Kerry Claydon PhD and Jade Sciacia B.Sc.(Hons). 
  • An experiential learning-based course, with a diverse variety of both theoretical and more practical learning tasks
  • Full tutor support. Submitted assignments marked and commented on by experts and returned promptly with expert feedback to reinforce and expand your learning experience.

Study the patterns of weather. Use modelling and predictive software to envisage future events. Understand the delicate factors at play.

  Explore the science that underpins weather prediction

It's easy to enrol...

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Select a learning location:  
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Select a payment plan:  

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COURSE CONTENT

There are eight lessons in this course:

1. What to Measure

  • What is Weather Forecasting?
  • Weather Warnings
  • Weather forecasting
  • Impacts to people
  • Impacts for farming
  • Weather factors
  • Cloud cover
  • Minimum temperature
  • Maximum temperature
  • Dry bulb temperature
  • Wet bulb temperature
  • Wind speed
  • Wind direction
  • Precipitation
  • Absolute humidity
  • Relative humidity
  • Dew point
  • Mean sea level pressure
  • Station level pressure
  • Water vapour pressure
  • UV index

2. Tools for forecasting

  • Equipment
  • Weather stations
  • Weather balloons and drones
  • Satellites
  • Recording, Storing and Processing Data
  • High Performance Computers
  • Numerical Weather Forecasting
  • What should be in a minimal weather station?

3. Types of Forecasting

  • Persistence Forecasting
  • Climatological Forecasting
  • Use of a Barometer
  • Looking at the Sky
  • Nowcasting
  • Numerical Weather Prediction models
  • Statistical Forecasting
  • Analogue Forecasting
  • Ensemble Forecasting

4. Weather Models

  • Introduction
  • Weather models data sets and global weather models
  • ECMWF
  • GFS
  • How Weather Models are Built
  • Grid size
  • Problems with the Grid
  • How do parameterisations work?
  • Model Uncertainty
  • Data Assimilation
  • Mesoscale/Regional models
  • The Human Element of Weather Modelling

5. Predicting Temperature

  • Diurnal temperature variation
  • Forecasting maximum temperature
  • Forecasting minimum temperature
  • Effect of snow cover
  • Severity of frost
  • Forecasting grass minimum temperature
  • Minimum temperature on road surfaces
  • Heat Stress Determination
  • Urban Heat Island

6. Predicting Rain

  • Introduction
  • Convection and Showers
  • Forecasting convective cloud
  • Forecasting showers
  • Forecasting cumulonimbus and thunderstorms
  • Layer clouds and precipitation
  • Layer cloud formation
  • Condensation trails
  • Orographic rainfall
  • Formation of stratocumulus
  • Precipitation associated with layered clouds
  • Snow

7. Air Conditions

  • Introduction
  • Air Quality
  • Air Pollution and Its Effect on Climate
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Methane
  • Airborne Chemicals
  • Air Particles
  • Pollen and Allergies
  • Radon
  • Wind and Turbulence
  • Mechanical Turbulence
  • Thermal Turbulence
  • Frontal Turbulence
  • Wind shear
  • Humidity
  • Visibility

8. Practical Applications

  • Introduction
  • Severe Weather Alerts
  • Aviation
  • Marine
  • Agriculture
  • Forestry
  • Utility Companies
  • Private Sector
  • Military
  • Medicine and Human Health
  • Waves and surges

AIMS

  • Determine where and when to measure factors affecting weather in order to predict weather conditions with relative and economically viable probability in any designated place.
  • Describe the use of different tools and equipment used to measure and analyse weather conditions.
  • Compare different types of forecasting to select the most appropriate type for situations encountered.
  • Explain how weather models are constructed and what they mean.
  • Explain how temperature ranges might be predicted.
  • Describe how rainfall is predicted in the short, medium, and long term.
  • Predict air conditions including humidity, turbulence, visibility, pollutants,
  • Apply an understanding of weather forecasting in practical ways to different industries.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is this course relevant to the UK?

Yes.It has been developed to be relevant to anywhere in the world, including the UK.

Will the Course help me with Practical Applications to work or leisure such as gardening, farming or any outdoor activities?

Yes. Your ability to understand the factors that affect the weather will increase, and you should be better able to predict likely weather patterns, and better understand predictions being made by meteorologists.

What level of study is this course?

It is designed as a college or university level course, and assumes a year 11 or 12 education; but being a self paced course with full tutor support, any older adolescent or adult is accepted and can simply take their time with our support to do the course. There is no limit on time from the school, so take as long as you need to complete it.

 

Why Study with ACS?

Design your own learning pathway.

Study at your own pace, from anywhere, at any time. 

Receive prompt, expert support from our team of committed and friendly tutors.

Your learning is our priority. We are flexible and adaptable to meet your educational needs!

 

Enrolling is easy - just go to the top of this page and select your study method and payment option.

If you have any questions about studying with ACS, or want to know more about any of our courses, get in touch with our specialist tutors today. They will be happy to answer your questions and look at different study options to fit in with your goals.

 
Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Dr Kerry ClaydonBA-BSc (Psychology, Computer Science, Aquaculture), BSc (Hons Microbiology), PhD (Microbiology), Diploma in Brewing Science. Kerry has over 20 years’ experience in various fields of microbiology including aquatic microbiology, medical microbiology, agricultural microbiology, and brewing microbiology. Kerry has been the Director of several health programs within Australian and Asia and is a passionate teacher and tutor.
John Mason (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Nurseryman, Landscaper, Garden Writer, Parks Manager and Consultant. Over 45 years experience; working in Australia and the UK. He is one of the most widely published garden writers in the world; author of more than 100 books and editor for 4 different gardening magazines. John has been recognised by his peers being made a fellow of the Institute of Horticulture in the UK, as well as by the Australian Institute of Horticulture.
Jade SciasciaBiologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager. Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.
Diana Cole (Horticulturist)Horticulturist, Permaculturist, Landscaper, Environmentalist. Holds a Diploma in Horticulture, degree in geography, permaculture certificate and various other qualifications. Between 1985 and 94, Diana was a task leader with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Since 2001 she has been chairperson of the Friends of Mellor Park (with Stockport MDC). From 2005 she has worked exclusively in horticulture as proprietor of her own garden design and consultancy business in and around Derbyshire; and at the same time as part time manager of a small garden centre. Diana has been an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable tutor with ACS since 2008.