Skills for Environmental Science

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2016/7

Summary module description:
Aims:
?To introduce the instruments and techniques used to measure meteorological parameters, and to appreciate their limitations.
?To introduce basic skills in laboratory experimentation.
?To develop skills in computer programming useful in environmental science, for data processing and analysis
Assessable learning outcomes:
The assessment for this module evaluates the students':
?knowledge of meteorological instruments and their application
?ability to undertake basic experiments in a physical laboratory, including an appreciation of experimental errors
?ability to communicate experimental results in a concise, accurate and comprehensible manner
?ability to understand basic computer programming principles
?ability to construct a simple computer program to perform logical and numerical operations
?ability to perform simple science data processing tasks using a computer program and spreadsheet tools
Additional outcomes:
The student will develop enhanced team-working and basic experimental skills

Outline content:
?Term2: Generic characteristics of instruments for environmental measurement, as determined by response, sensitivity, lag, sampling and error analysis. The design, operation and calibration of instruments used to measure temperature, humidity, wind, pressure, broadband solar and terrestrial radiation, rainfall and upper air properties.
?Term 3: Basic understanding of programming for environmental data analysis including: code readability and commenting, variables mathematical and logical operators, conditional branching, conditional loops, functions, reading data from files, plotting, module structure
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The instrumentation and laboratory components are taught in term 2 and involve 10 50-minute lectures plus approximately 20 hours of laboratory work. The IT component is taught in the first four weeks in term 3 and involves practical classes with a strong self-learning element supported by notes and demonstrations.

Contact hours:
Lectures- 10
Practicals classes and workshops- 20
Guided independent study- 70
Total hours by term- 100
Total hours for module- 200

Summative Assessment Methods:
Report- 70%
Sex exercise- 12%
Class test administered by School- 18%

Other information on summative assessment:
Formative assessment methods:
For the instrument component, the student is required to submit one report for formative assessment.

Length of examination:
N/A

Requirements for a pass:
40% overall with at least 27% in Term 2 and 13% in Term 3

Reassessment arrangements:
August/September examination only.