Department of
Meteorology

Special Course
Announcement

Click printer icon for printable Adobe Acrobat PDF version of this announcement.

Meteorology 474
Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting

Fall Semester 2006 (3 credits)

Time: Tues. & Thurs., 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Instructor: Prof. George S. Young

Contact: young@meteo.psu.edu

Purpose and Content

Ongoing advances in statistical forecasting techniques are making automated weather prediction systems ever more competitive against the human forecaster. At the heart of this revolution is the advance from simple linear models of cause and effect to complex nonlinear models mimicking the way forecasters think. These artificial intelligence systems have proven able to handle forecast problems involving multiple possible mechanisms for the same outcome, long the forte of the human forecaster. With the forecaster’s advantages shrinking, the speed of automated systems is becoming a telling factor in the weather forecast market. To succeed in this changing environment the operational meteorologist must become a builder of forecast systems, one who uses meteorological insight and statistical knowledge to create ever more accurate forecast systems. Meteorology 474 addresses these issues, providing hands-on experience building and testing the forecast systems of the future.

If your interests include operational forecasting in the 21st Century, then please consider taking next fall Meteo 474. This class is open to both Meteo and non-Meteo majors and has a basic statistics course (STAT 301, 401 or the equivalent) as a prerequisite. For further information, feel free to stop by Prof. Young’s office (620 Walker) or e-mail him at: young@meteo.psu.edu.