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SOUTH DAKOTA
SCHOOL OF MINES
& TECHNOLOGY
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Syllabus, CP 497/697 (ATM) [All Semesters] Cooperative Study in Meteorology
Who Where When
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Bill
Capehart (SDSMT-IAS), MI 213, Open Door Office Hours and by Appointment, Ph: 394-1994,
Email: <William.Capehart@sdsmt.edu>
Matt Bunkers
(NWS-UNR), Rapid City WFO, 300 Signal Drive, Office
Hours By Appointment, Ph: 341-9271, Email: <wxbunkers@hotmail.com> the hardrocker.sdsmt.edu email is being blocked by NOAA for reasons unknown.
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On-site: National Weather Service,
300 Signal
Drive (As scheduled)
SDSM&T: MI 213 (As scheduled) |
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Available Fall, Spring and Summer Semesters as NWS operational duties permit |
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http://capehart.sdsmt.edu/nws-coop.html
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Hours and Signup
This is a Two-Hour Course. There is typically one to three slots available per semester pending NWS duties and operational limitations. Students should consult with Dr. Capehart to ensure that a slot is open for them. Be advised that Web Advisor doesn't always have our slot setup for me as supervisor. Inform the Dr. Capehart if no such slot is visible.
Students wishing to be stationed at Aberdeen, Sioux Falls WSOs should discuss the matter with Dr. Capehart and the resident Science and Operations Officer (SOO) and Meteorologist-in-Charge (MIC) before enrolling. SDSMT has a memorandum of understanding with the Rapid City WSO only.
Students seeking alternative credit hours will have their formal contract altered accordingly, pending approval of SDSMT and NWS program representatives.
Prerequisites
ATM 301 (Intro to Atm Sci) or equivalent, and ATM 450 (Synoptic Meteorology 1). Waviers granted for equivalent qualifications in Weather Analysis by professor's and NWS's approval.
Joint Approval of SDSMT and NWS representatives required before
enrolment.
Overview
Unlike other Co-Op programs at SDSM&T, students enrolling in CP-697 (ATM)
are able to volunteer at the Rapid City National Weather (NWS) Service
Office while attending classes throughout school year. A student volunteer
program between the institutions permits graduate and undergraduate students
to become familiar with NWS operations, obtain NWS training certifications
and work on research projects. Each of these components serves to improve
the student's marketability towards a career in the NWS and improve operations
at local Weather Service Office, thereby providing a mutually beneficial
arrangement between university and government facilities and the participating
student.
Students are required to work 60-hours over the semester coordinating
with faculty at SDSM&T's Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and the
Science and Operations Officer at the local Weather Service Office. Students
must also produce a quality paper based on their semester's research project
that assists the local NWS improve its mission to the public and nation.
Potential Projects
- Significant Event Analysis with the Weather Event Simulator
- Detailed Radar Analysis of a Specific Hydrometeorological Event
- Hydrological or Heavy Rain/Flash Flood Studies
- Climate and/or Forecast Studies within the WFO's Forecast Domain
- Model Verification Studies (NAM, RUC, GFS, WRF, MM5)
- Aviation Forecasting Training Course
NWS Volunteer Duties
The student will be assigned to one or more of the following activities.
The student is strongly encouraged to develop the broadest portfolio possible.
All activities will be assigned and supervised by a NWS staffer. The full extent of these activies are found in the PDF at the bottom of this Syllabus. Summarized here, they include:
- Training: The student will be expected to learn basic
operational facets of the NWS
- Projects: The student may be expected to work on forecast
studies, data reduction projects, collating data algorithm output for display,
data entry or graphical constructions.
- Upper Air Observations: Observe and participate in the Radiosonde launch procedure and
understand how the data are used.
- NOAA Weather Radio: Understand its purpose. Learn what the acronym SAME means, and
how it trips the receiver. What is the typical signal coverage of a NWR transmitter?
- AWIPS Familiarization: Students will be introduced to the AWIPS (Advanced Weather
Interactive Processing System) workstation, and become familiar with some of the key
applications used by forecasters.
- Radar Interpretation: Learn about the basic operation of the WSR-88D radar, its range, and
versatility. Be able to interpret basic radar echo patterns, returns.
- Forecast Poduction: In a training capacity, the volunteer assists the Forecaster and/or HMT in
monitoring and analyzing weather conditions.
- Hand Analyses: Once a week, the student will produce a basic hand analysis for the Forecaster
on Duty.
- Public Service: The student will learn basic phone etiquette and may assist in any public
requests for weather data.
The Grade Contract
Every two weeks, a report on activities will be presented to the supervising professor. Both the Co-Op professor and SOO will examine the quality of the student's
research projects. This in combination of the student's research projects
and assessments by NWS personnel will determine the student's grade.
Students should review the materials linked below before signing up or consulting with the lead professor or NWS representative
The NWS-UNR / SDSMT-IAS Formal Volunteer Position Description
Contact: William Capehart
This page has been visited 1,773 times since 01/19/2000
| http://www.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/ias/courses/atm-cpX97 |
Last Modified: 01/11/2007 |
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