Certificate of Achievement

William Woodgate

has completed the following course:

Come Rain or Shine: Understanding the Weather

University of Reading and The Royal Meteorological Society

This three week course explores the physical processes underlying the weather systems, that impact on many aspects of our lives.

3 weeks, 3 hours per week

Dr Peter Inness

Lecturer in Meteorology, University of Reading

University of Reading

Dr Sylvia Knight

Head of Education for the Royal Meteorological Society

The Royal Meteorological Society

Transcript

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the weather features associated with depressions, anticyclones and the four main air masses which affect the UK
  • Interpret a synoptic or weather chart to provide details about wind speed and direction, precipitation and cloud cover
  • Describe some of the physical processes which give rise to weather, such as convection, condensation, pressure gradients and the Coriolis force
  • Investigate local weather conditions using readily available instruments
  • Explain some of the processes which transfer energy through the Earth system, including the transient effects of volcanoes and changes in the Earth’s orbit, and how these processes relate to the Earth’s climate
  • Apply their understanding of mid-latitude weather systems to the analysis of weather data and images

Syllabus

Week 1:

  • Introduction to high and low pressure systems
  • Weather and climate differences
  • Depressions and anticyclones

Week 2:

  • Where does weather come from and why does it rain?
  • Air masses and types of rain
  • Measuring the weather

Week 3:

  • Global controls on weather
  • Global atmospheric circulation
  • Other weather systems: Monsoons, Tropical cyclones and El Niño/La Niña.

Issued on 13th August 2016

The person named on this certificate has completed the activities in the transcript above. For more information about Certificates of Achievement and the effort required to become eligible, visit futurelearn.com/proof-of-learning/certificate-of-achievement.

This certificate represents proof of learning. It is not a formal qualification, degree, or part of a degree.

Free online course:

Come Rain or Shine: Understanding the Weather

University of Reading