GEO9902 – Numerical Weather Prediction
Course description
Course content
The course provides an overview of the different components of a weather prediction system and how forecasts are produced and evaluated. Specifically, we will emphasize the simulation and forecasting of weather systems, data assimilation, forecast verification, sensitivities to initial conditions, and ensemble prediction. A strong focus will be on the convective-scale weather forecasting systems of MET Norway, understanding its characteristics and its dissemination via yr.no. It includes hands-on exercises to access and analyze weather forecasts.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you are able to
- outline the main components of numerical weather prediction systems
- discuss applications for data assimilation
- use and analyze techniques to verify forecasts
- analyze ensemble forecasts and discuss atmospheric predictability
Admission to the course
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through?Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must?apply for a position as a visiting student?within a given deadline.
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with GEO4902 – Numerical Weather Prediction.
Teaching
The course includes 4 hours of lectures per week during the semester. The students are expected to give one mandatory presentation of a paper in the class during the semester. In addition, there will be mandatory python-exercises to analyze and understand weather forecast characteristics. The results and analysis based on their programming will be handed in and approved.
Each student is expected to participate in an assignment that consists of an analysis and interpretation of a specific weather-forecasting-related problem.?The project ideas will be discussed within the first two weeks of the semester. A report and in-class presentation are expected.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Student administration (studieinfo@geo.uio.no).
We reserve the right to change the teaching?form and examination of the course in semesters where 5 or fewer students have been admitted.
Examination
- Presentation of a paper, in-class presentation and submitted results and analysis from?Python exercises must be approved before you can sit the final exam.?
- A final oral examination counts 100% towards the final grade.
Mandatory assignments are valid for 5 semesters starting from the semester they were approved the first time.
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as 1 of the 3 attempts to sit the exam for this course if you sit the exam for the following course:
Examination support material
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are?offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass, the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.