Meteorology 416: Advanced Forecasting Practicum
Spring 2017
Course Description. Competitive, simulated, operational, real-time forecasting focusing on the techniques of prediction and issues of verification of both short-term forecasts of mesoscale weather phenomena and medium-range synoptic scale patterns
Instructor.Fred Gadomski, 606a Walker, 863-4229,
Office Hours.By appointment
When/Where.Mon & Wed 1:25-3:20am, 607 Walker
Text / Web. There is no text for this course. The coursework and forecasts will be managed via Angel and the course web site: http:/
Course Philosophy. The goal of this course is to provide multiple learning opportunities in forecasting both short-term mesoscale and medium-range synoptic-scale weather-phenomena, to become familiar with tools that help refine these predictions, and to discover the formidable challenges of verifying mesoscale forecasts. Because this course will use real-time data which are unlikethe classic lab exercise, it is important to have multiple opportunities to maximize the “learning by doing” experience. With this in mind, forecasting will include probabilistic “Zone” forecasts mainly on Mondays and “Threat” forecasts mainly Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, there will be a continuing homework assignment in the form of a medium-range forecasting contest designed to practice identifying major weather hazards in the 7-21 day time frame.
Class Breakdown
Mondays
Most Monday classes will have a quiz andthe verification of the Threat forecast from the previous Wednesday (done by the instructor). Then, the forecasting part of the class begins with a map discussion where participation is expected and is part of
the course grade. This will be followed by individual forecast time that may be interrupted briefly for updates on verification criteria. All forecasts must be submitted by 9:55am. At the instructor’s discretion, there will be a penalty for every minute of all late submissions.
Wednesdays
Wednesday classes will begin with the post-mortem/verification of the Monday Zone forecast by that week’s verification team. The team must submit the verification to the instructor by 7:30 am that day. Then, there will be a graded map discussion, a description of the day’s threat forecast assignment, and completion of the day’s threat forecast. Forecasts must be submitted by9:55am, and there will be a 5% penalty for every minute of all late submissions.
Meteorology 416: Advanced Forecasting Practicum
Spring 2017
Assessment Tools / Grading. The grades will be determined in the following manner:
Forecasting Contests: (50%)
BEFORE SPRING BREAK
(10%)Contest 1a: Probabilistic Zone Forecasts – 5 or 6 forecasting days
(5%)Contest 1b: Threat Forecasts – 6 or 7 forecasting days
AFTER SPRING BREAK
(15%)Contest 2a: Probabilistic Zone Forecasts – 6 forecasting days
(10%)Contest 2b: Threat Forecasts – 7 forecasting days
BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER SPRING BREAK
(10%)Medium- Range Weather Hazard Forecasts – 11 forecasting days
In-Class Map Discussions, General Participation: (10%)
All students should develop a daily habit of remaining “in touch” with current Northern Hemisphere weather patterns and model trends. Students are expected to contribute to discussions concerning that day's (or the recent) weather patterns. The instructor will also choose and question students randomly during the discussions.
Post Mortems (Verifications): (20%)
Each week, a Zone “verification team” will responsible for participating in a map discussion (10 minutes) on Monday, then leading a class discussion and verification of the Zone forecast on Wednesday (20-30 minutes). The Wednesday powerpoint presentation should include verifications (with sources) and a thorough analysis of the synoptic/mesoscale features involved (using at least four “tools” – satellite, radar, surface maps, etc) along with any other relevant charts, guidance and documents. Each teamwill leadtwo of these post-mortems. Students that are not part of the verification team are expected to participate through critical evaluation of the verification team’s presentation.
Quizzes (COMET Modules, Journal Articles): (20%)
You will complete several on-line modules, read several technical papers and will be quizzed on most Mondays to assess your understanding of the material.
.
Meteorology 416: Advanced Forecasting Practicum
Spring 2017
Lectures and Modules. This is not a formal lecture course. Real-time discussions of the weatherwill form the basis for exploring topics. COMET modules, on-line articles and journal papers will supplement the in-class discussions.
Module/Paper/Lecture Topics (Tentative Schedule)
Week ofTopic
Jan 9Overview /Course Mechanics/ZONEcast- Modules 1
Jan 18No Monday/Quiz/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 2
Jan 23No class Monday (AMS) /THREATcast - Modules 3
Jan 30Quiz/ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 4
Feb 6Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 5
Feb 13Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 6
Feb 20Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 7
Feb27 Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast -Modules 8
Spring Break
Mar 13Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 9
Mar 20Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 10
Mar 27Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 11
Apr 3Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 12
Apr 10 Quiz, ZONEcast/MRcast/THREATcast - Modules 13
Apr 17 Quiz, ZONEcast/THREATcast - Modules 14
Apr 24 Quiz, THREATcast
Academic integrity This course follows the College of EMS academic integrity policy:
Students with disabilitiesThe Office for Disability Services (ODS) Web site provides contact information for every Penn State campus: For further information, please visit theOffice for Disability Services Web site: In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled,participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, yourcampus’s disability services officewill provide you with an accommodation letter
Meteorology 416: Advanced Forecasting Practicum
Spring 2017
Prerequisites. Meteo 414, Meteo 415
Students who do not meet these prerequisites may be dis-enrolled during the first 10-day free add-drop period after being informed in writing by the instructor (see: If you have not completed the listed prerequisites, then promptly consult with the instructor if you have not done so already. Students who re-enroll after being dis-enrolled according to this policy are in violation of Item 15 on the Student Code of Conduct (
Course Objectives.
- Students can demonstrate the ability to produce short-term forecasts of a variety of weather variables for atmospheric systems that occur throughout the year
- Students can demonstrate the ability to use real-time observations and numerical weather predictions to guide the creation of timely short-term probabilistic and threat weather forecasts at a variety of locations
- Students can demonstrate the ability to add value to medium-range and sub-seasonal global numerical model forecasts by identifying the potential important weather anomalies and hazards with lead-times of 7-21 days
Course Outcomes.
1. Students can demonstrate the ability to lead discussions and verifications of mesoscale forecasts using satellite, radar, and surface observations
2. Students can demonstrate a knowledge of a variety of forecast verification tools and measures of forecast skill
3. Students can demonstrate the ability to use knowledge of synoptic climatology, teleconnections and medium-range NWP guidance to identify potential weather hazards with lead-lead times up to three weeks.
4. Students can demonstrate the ability to create and disseminate a useful real-time mesoscale weather prediction under time constraints, based on current observations and numerical forecasts of the atmosphere
5. Students can demonstrate discernment among a wide variety of data sources and evaluate their applicability to the forecast problem