Meteorology

HIG 331
2525 Correa Road
Tel: 956-8775
Fax: 956-2877

Faculty

*G. M. Barnes, PhD (Chair)-convection, hurricanes, and boundary-layer meteorology
*S. Businger, PhD-mesoscale and synoptic meteorology, satellite meteorology, storm structure and dynamics
*Y. L. Chen, PhD-mesometeorology
*P. S. Chu, PhD-tropical climate and circulation, statistical applications
*P. A. Daniels, PhD-physical meteorology, atmospheric pollution, instrumentation
*F. F. Jin, PhD-atmospheric and oceanic dynamics
*T. A. Schroeder, PhD-mesometeorology, tropical meteorology
*D. E. Stevens, PhD-atmospheric dynamics
*B. Wang, PhD-geophysical fluid dynamics, climate dynamics
*J. Zhao, PhD-atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Cooperating Graduate Faculty
A. D. Clarke, PhD-marine aerosols, biogeochemical cycles, optical properties
B. J. Huebert, PhD-atmospheric chemistry

Affiliate Graduate Faculty
Y. H. (Bill) Kuo, PhD-mesometeorology
W. C. Lee, PhD-radar and mesoscale meteorology
T. Takahashi, PhD-cloud physics

Degrees Offered: BS in meteorology, MS in meteorology, PhD in meteorology

The Academic Program

Meteorology (MET) is the study of phenomena in the Earth's atmosphere. These phenomena include the daily weather and climate. Students pursuing the BS in meteorology receive preparation for professional employment in meteorology and are qualified for employment in the federal meteorological agencies. The meteorology major must be well-grounded in the fundamentals of mathematics and physics. Thus BS graduates are qualified to pursue graduate studies both in meteorology and other applied sciences, such as oceanography or computer sciences. Graduate degrees prepare students to pursue research careers both with government and in academia.

The meteorology program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa is unique in its focus on tropical meteorology. The tropics comprise 50 percent of Earth's surface and exert critical controls on the global atmosphere. BS students receive comprehensive training in tropical weather analysis and forecasting. Graduate students often pursue thesis research in tropical meteorology, some studying topics which take advantage of Hawai'i's unique natural laboratory. Some students pursue graduate thesis research with funding from the National Weather Service whose Honolulu Weather Forecast Office is housed in the same building as the meteorology department. Meteorology faculty cooperate actively with physical oceanography faculty through the Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research in the study of air-sea interaction and climate variability.

Affiliations

The University of Hawai'i is an active member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Advising

The department has one undergraduate adviser, who may be contacted through the department office (956-8775). Graduate students are assigned individual faculty advisers by the graduate chair after their preliminary conference.

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor's Degree

Requirements

Students must complete 124 credit hours, including:

General Education Core
MET 101L and 200
21 credit hours in meteorology courses numbered 300 and above, including MET 302, 303, 305, and 402; and MET 412 or 416 (Students planning careers with federal meteorological agencies should take both 412 and 416.)
15 additional credit hours from physical and mathematical sciences (e.g., engineering, geography, geology and geophysics, information and computer sciences, mathematics, oceanography, physics, and soil science) including (but are not limited to) MET 405, 406, and 600; MET 412 or 416; AGRN 661; CE 424 and 626; GEOG 300, 302, 402, and 412; GG 412 and 455; ICS 211, 311, and 442; MATH 311, 371, 373, 402, 403, 404, and 405; OCN 620; OEST 310; PHYS 274, 274L, and 400; and SCI 394 or 395
CHEM 171 and 171L
ICS 111 and 111L
MATH 231 and 232 (Students planning careers with federal meteorological agencies should take MATH 405.)
PHYS 170, 170L, 272, and 272L

Minor Requirements

Students must complete 15 credit hours of non-introductory courses, including:

MET 200, 302, and 303
6 credits of electives from MET 305, 405, 406, 412, 416L, and OEST 310

Graduate Study

The department offers MS and PhD degrees. Through courses in dynamic, synoptic, and physical meteorology, students develop a strong foundation in tropical meteorology, the department's special field, and are prepared to do research in the atmospheric sciences.

Intended candidates must present a thorough preparation in physics (with calculus), chemistry, and mathematics through differential equations. Undergraduate courses in dynamic and synoptic meteorology are expected, but they can be taken in the first year.

All students in the program must complete two seminar courses of MET 765 (Alpha) involving active participation as speaker and listener.

Master's Degree

Requirements

At the master's level, only Plan A (thesis) is available, requiring a minimum of 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis. A minimum of 18 credit hours, exclusive of research methods must be earned for the MS degree. All students must complete MET 600, 610, 620, and a synoptic analysis course (MET 412 or MET 416) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for those courses. A thesis examination is required.

Doctoral Degree

The PhD student exhibits a higher level of independence and originality of thought than that required of the MS student.

Requirements

In the PhD program the student is required to pass a departmental qualifying examination. The examination is intended to evaluate the student's general meteorological knowledge at the master's level and to identify possible academic weaknesses. Passing the examination qualifies the student for PhD candidacy. If exam performance is inadequate, the faculty shall determine that either (a) the student should take the exam a second time within one year, or (b) the student should not pursue a PhD. The exam is to be taken by all students who wish to pursue a PhD and must be taken prior to the third semester in residence in the PhD program.

No later than the second semester after passing the qualifying exam, the student is required to submit a written research proposal to a dissertation committee. If the committee approves the proposal, the student will sit for an oral comprehensive examination. The purpose of the oral comprehensive examination is to ascertain the student's comprehension of the chosen field of study so that he/she is well prepared for the proposed research. Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student will proceed with his/her dissertation. In addition to meteorology courses listed in this Catalog, students may take courses in related disciplines such as engineering, information and computer sciences, geography, mathematics, oceanography, and physics, with the concurrence of the academic adviser.