Meteorology and Oceanography is the last course from the module Scientific Bases of Natural Environment. This module involves those sciences most specifically related to the knowledge, interpretation and description of natural environment, in order to correctly interpret the multiple relations between this and human activities: their repercussion, protection or conservation actions, etc.



This course particularly analyzes meteorological phenomena and their origin, as well as basic climate processes and their relation with oceans. An special importance is given to the gathering and analysis of meteorological data.



It is encouraged to previously study first year's Physics and Mathematics in order to realize this course.

Apart from the basic competences, which are common to every degree, the following general competences will be practiced:



G001: To acquire basic scientific knowledge and use it in the social, economic,legal and ethical spheres, in order to identify environmental problems.



G003: To be part of professional teams (including teaching or research work) from the environmental field.



And the transversal competence (G009): To be able to use the information obtained from different sources about an applied topic. To interpret it correctly, to extract significant conclusions and to present them publicly.



Regarding the specific module competences, the following will be practiced:



M02CM05: To learn the basic principles of structural-, dynamical- and climatic-geomorphology.



M02CM06: To use the basic techniques for the obtainment, analysis and cartographic representation of the environmental information.



M02CM08: To analyze and interpret meteorological and oceanographic processes, and use them for the planning and development of environmental projects, territorial planning and the methodology of environmental impact evaluation.



The learning results of the student will be the following:



a)The student is able to describe the basic caracteristics and causes of the following meteorological and oceanographic phenomena:

- Greenhouse effect

- General atmospheric and oceanic circulation

- Wind

- Sea/land breezes and foehn effect

- Turbulence

- Tides

- Waves

- Oceanic upwellings



b) The student is able to apply the following equations in order to describe atmospheric/oceanic behavior:

- Hydrostatic equation

- Geostrophic equation

- Technical formula for the obtainment of altitude wind's value inside the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

- Weibull's statistical distribution for the wind

- Electrical power generated by an aerogenerator

- Tide's height sinusoidal interpolation



c) The student is able to use correctly the technical vocabulary employed in meteorology and Oceanography.



d) The student is able to obtain and use meteorological/oceanographic information through internet.

1. Composition and structure of Earth's atmosphere:

- Atmospheric layers

- Principal atmospheric meteors

- Hydrostatic equation

- Vertical atmospherical sounding

- Types of clouds in the troposphere



2. Atmospheric general circulation

- Wind's geostrophic equation

- Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL)

- Electrical power of an aerogenerator

- Mesometeorological phenomena

- Dispersion of pollutants

- General circulation cells and world wind systems

- Influence of general circulation in Earth's climate

- Air masses affecting Iberic Peninsula



3. Earth atmosphere's heat budget

- Insolation

- Geophysical limit for energy sustainability

- Sun-Earth irradiation flux

- Greenhouse effect

- 1D simple model for climate change



4. Composition and structure of ocean

- Oceanic layers

- Oceanic temperature, salinity and density profiles

- Ocean bottom



5. Oceanic currents and tides

- General oceanic circulation

- Thermohaline circulation

- Forces generating tides

- Types of tides

- Tide height estimation

- Eckman's spiral

- Descent and subsidence phenomenon due to Eckman's pumping

- Oceanic upwelling



6. Waves and their energy

- Wave amplitude, valley, length, period and velocity

- Beaufort's scale

- Estimation of wave's height (fetch)

- Energy of waves

During this course we do not completely differentiate between the so called master classes and practical lessons (being these last ones compulsory). Instead, master classes are complemented with the resolution of practical activities. With that purpose, lessons in the regular classroom and lessons in the computer room are equally combined.



Both in the classroom and the computer room an active participatory methodology is followed, where the student is the protagonist of her/his own learning process. In the classroom, usually theoretical contents are presented through bibliographical research, presentations or problem resolution, whereas in the computer room meteorological/oceanographic information is collected for its posterior treatment and analysis.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 25
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 30
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 30
  • TEST PROBA PARTZIALAK (%): 15

There are two types of evaluation: the continuous and the final one.



Those who choose final evaluation, should officially notify it to the professor during the first 9 weeks of the course. In this case, if the student does not show up to the final exam, that will be enough to renounce to the evaluation.



Those who choose continuous evaluation do not have to do a final exam. Apart from group problems, projects, presentations, etc. students should realize a practical exam and two theoretical exams. In order to pass the course it will be compulsory to pass those practical and theoretical exams. In order to renounce to the evaluation, students should officially notify it to the professor at least a month before the semester ends.



In case sanitary situation obligates to take measures which impede a face-to-face evaluation a distance evaluation will be activated. The students will be informed about that.



Spelling or syntax mistakes will be penalized; each mistake will rest 0.1 points and a maximum of 0.5 points will be rested.

In the extraordinary call the only evaluation form will be the final one. In order to renounce to the evaluation, it will be enough not to be presented to the final exam.



In case sanitary situation obligates to take measures which impede a face-to-face evaluation a distance evaluation will be activated. The students will be informed about that.



Spelling or syntax mistakes will be penalized; each mistake will rest 0.1 points and a maximum of 0.5 points will be rested.

Basic bibliography

- Understanding Weather and Climate. E. Aguado y J. E. Burt. Pearson Education

- The Atmosphere. F. K. Lutgens y E. J. Tarbuck. Pearson Education

- Introduction to Physical Oceanography. R. H. Stewart. https://www.colorado.edu/oclab/stewart-textbook

- An Introduction to Physical Oceanography, Matthias Tomczak. http://gyre.umeoce.maine.edu/physicalocean/Tomczak/IntroOc/index.html

In-depth bibliography

Practical Meteorology, R. Stull. https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/

Journals

Elhuyar

Web addresses

- Wyoming-eko unibertsitatea: http://weather.uwyo.edu/

- Euskalmet: http://www.euskalmet.euskadi.eus/hasiera

- AEMET: http://www.aemet.es/eu/portada

- UK meteorologia zerbitzua: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

- Wetterzentrale: http://www.wetterzentrale.de/

- National Center for Atmosferic Research (USA): https://ncar.ucar.edu/

- Bilbaoport: https://www.bilbaoport.eus/eu/

- Puertos del Estado: http://www.puertos.es/eu-es#