MT3AFT: Atmospheric Science Fieldtrip

Module code: MT3AFT

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Joy Singarayer , email: j.s.singarayer@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Peter Inness, email: p.m.inness@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 1: Professor Bob Plant, email: r.s.plant@reading.ac.uk

Additional teaching staff 2: Dr David Ferreira, email: d.g.ferreira@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 16 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The purpose of this module is to provide experience of using the data from meteorological field equipment, theoretical understanding of how the instruments work. The course consists of a series of lectures, practical sessions using various data sources (including the University’s Atmospheric Observatory), and culminating in a 5-6 residential day field trip within the UK. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand the way in which different instruments work, and how they are used to measure atmospheric properties. 
2. Describe different sources of uncertainty in measurements, and calculate the errors in quantities derived from these data. 
3. Consolidate diverse sources of data at different scales to understand the influence of atmosphere on the meteorology in a specific location. 
4. Plan and conduct field measurement campaigns, working extensively in a team. 

Module content

The module consists of:

• 13 hours of lectures in the first half of the second semester. These cover the theoretical basis for the fieldtrip and typical topics include:
  • Instrumentation and sampling
  • Hill profiling
  • Radiosondes
  • Errors and error propagation
  • Surface energy exchange
• 8 hours of practical class in the first half of the second semester, typical topics include:
  • Data processing in Python
  • Flux & energy balance calculations
  • Tephigram construction
  • Analysing forecast model output
• 5-6 days of residential field trip, during the easter vacation period, typical activities will include:
  • Radiosonde launches
  • Hill profiling
  • Weather forecasting
  • Energy balance
  • Flux profiles

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• 13 hours of lectures in the first half of the second semester. These cover the theoretical basis of measurements that will be taken fieldtrip. 
• 8 hours of practical class in the first half of the second semester. These will include activities focused around the Atmospheric Observatory, but also using the wider campus, followed by sessions in PC labs processing the collected data. 
• 5-6 days of residential field trip based at a field centre (e.g. FSC Blencathra). The focus will be on being outside taking measurements during this time, but students will also process data and give groups presentations during the field trip. 
• Following the field trip there will be 2 hours of tutorial classes to assist with writing up the report. 

Study hours

At least 63 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details