Course Syllabus
University of Oklahoma
College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences
School of Meteorology
METR4603/5603: Advanced Observations for Lower Atmospheric Research
Fall 2024
Instructor Team
| Instructor | Office/Office Hours | |
| Dr. Elizabeth Smith NOAA NSSL/School of Meteorology |
NWC 4351 (locked NOAA doors, book a time here) Hours: I am in the classroom after class (3:30-4pm) Wednesdays Otherwise please book appointments to get past locked NOAA doors |
elizabeth.smith@noaa.gov elizabeth.n.smith@ou.edu |
| Dr. Tyler Bell OU-CIWRO/NOAA NSSL |
NWC 4638 Hours: Schedule a time here! |
|
| Dr. Otavio Acevedo OU School of Meteorology |
NWC 4644 Hours: |
Meeting Time and Location
Format: In-person
Location: NWC 5302 - measurements lab
Time: MWF 2:30–3:20 pm
Land Acknowledgement Statement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgement is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Belonging Statement
Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma fosters an inclusive culture of respect and civility, belonging, and access, which are essential to our collective pursuit of excellence and our determination to change lives. The unique talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community enrich the learning, and working environment at OU, inspiring us to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere.
Course Prerequisites
For METR4603: METR2213, METR2613, or instructor permission
For METR5603: METR5004 (concurrent enrollment accepted) or instructor permission
Course Description
Building upon the foundational lessons from METR2613: Atmospheric In-Situ & Surface-Based Measurements (or similar courses), this course will examine the observation and operation principles behind a variety of research-grade instruments and students will also learn how to analyze the data they provide. The course will be taught as a mix of group instruction, guest lectures, and instrument demonstrations, and include data-focused projects. Material presented will focus on modern and state-of-the-art instruments applied to current research problems with emphasis on lower-atmospheric observations. Students will use Python for processing, analysis, and visualization of real observed datasets.
Course Goals
After completion of this course, students will be familiar with several research-grade observation platforms and have experience synthesizing available observations and information to address a research problem. Students will have also gained important experiences interrogating and quality assuring observed datasets, which should be transferable beyond the observation platforms covered in class. Students entering research or data analysis careers will be more prepared to work with modern, state-of-the-art meteorological observations.
Course Outcomes
- Describe the benefits and limitations of various observation platforms and methods.
- Interpret observed data to and extract quality-assured and relevant information and for a given research problem.
- Develop and modify code to visualize observed data.
- Analyze and interpret data to provide insight on atmospheric processes.
- Write a research paper in journal article style which clearly identifies a research problem or question, explains the analyses used, and summarizes results.
Text and Materials
Readings will be provided throughout the course as needed. Given the focus on research applications, students will be exposed to scientific literature and given guidance on how to read and utilize such documents.
Much of the course will make use of Python coding software. We recommend that students install the (free) Anaconda distribution of Python on their personal computers or work with OU SoM IT to be sure to have access to Python on SoM Student Lab computers.
Teaching Philosophy
This course will be group-taught by a group of experienced observationalists. Our main goals are to expose you to modern research, scientific literature, and state-of-the-art observation platforms. We also aim to build a basic understanding of observation principles and practices that should transfer to other platforms beyond what we cover in class. As such, we hope to develop an interactive environment in which students feel welcome to ask questions and have discussions as we move through the course. Such an environment contributes to students’ conceptual understanding and allows the instructors to tailor our focus to topics of interest to the students. Some sessions will take the form of traditional lectures, while others may be more “hands-on” such as live instrument demonstrations. All course assignments are designed to give students real and applicable experience collecting, analyzing, and visualizing atmospheric observation data. We understand that students may come into this class with diverse backgrounds, particularly in Python coding. This should not be a barrier to students, and we aim to meet all students where they are in their coding skills and develop them accordingly.
Expectations
Students are expected to attend all sessions and complete all designated reading prior to the class meeting in which they will be discussed. Students are expected to seek assistance on any assignments prior to the due date as all students can not be accommodated in the day(s) immediately prior to the deadline (we recommend a minimum of 2 days prior to due date). Students will be completing coding tasks for several assignments. Coding help sessions and/or coding office hours will be held periodically throughout the semester. Students are encouraged to work together, but are required to submit individual and original work (including code) and adhere to university academic integrity policies (see below). Instructors will make all efforts to communicate clearly and in a timely manner, and we expect students to do the same. Emails should not go unanswered for more than 72 hours (during working hours). Known absences or other accommodation issues should be communicated to the instructor(s) at the earliest opportunity.
Learning Activities, Assignments, and Assessment
Since this course is an upper-level/graduate elective, no exams will be held during the semester. Instead, students will complete data-driven homework assignments and research projects using real observation data. Undergraduate students will typically complete project(s) in groups of 2-3, while graduate students will typically complete projects independently. Homeworks will include data quality assurance, analysis, and visualization tasks. These skills will be employed in the class project in addition to interpretation of data to address a research question or hypothesis. The class project will also build knowledge and skill sets related to the scientific research development process, including scientific proposals, writing, and reporting. Detailed course activities will be listed in a schedule below (subject to change).
Assigning Grades
Based on student feedback, we have evaluated the goals of this course and determined that traditional grading approaches may have negative effects on student outcomes. Instead of placing all focus and value on potentially arbitrary metrics that are not necessarily well applied to all students or all scenarios, we can instead reexamine our approach to assessment and tailor it toward the experiences and learning opportunities we hope to provide for students. The way grades are applied in this course will very likely be different than many courses you have taken in the past. We intend to apply an approach that is well suited to each type of activity or assignment and provide agency to students in their learning process. For this grading approach to be successful, we expect students to commit to honest reflections on their learning goals and progress throughout the course. More information about grading is included here.
Additional Support for Learning
The University of Oklahoma offers several resources for students to support their academic endeavors. Some important resources you may consider using are the National Weather Center Library, Disability Resource Center, OU Libraries Software and Data Carpentry series, and the Writing Center. If you need additional support or resources, connect with the instructor(s) for help finding the appropriate connections and information. It is particularly relevant to communicate accommodations that could make any instrumentation visits taking place outside the classroom more accessible for you. Throughout the semester, the teaching team plans to hold optional sessions covering tangential topics of interest such as coding, writing, presenting, and more. The UCAR MetEd Comet Program offers several helpful modules that students can access to refresh or prepare on background material. We recommend searching “measurement” to see a relevant listing of courses.
Homework Assignments
Homework assignments in this course will generally make use of real atmospheric observation data and require students to use Python (or another language with permission from the instructors) to interrogate those data. There will be a total of 4 homework assignments throughout the semester, each allowing approximately two weeks for completion. Students are expected to electronically submit written reports addressing all questions/ tasks and append their code to the end of the assignment. This is a good opportunity for students to learn the basics of LaTeX for formatting (an example will be provided). Students are encouraged to work together, but are required to submit individual and original work (including code) and adhere to university academic integrity policies. Please see the section below on academic misconduct and note your responsibility to be familiar with OU’s academic misconduct code. If you ever are in doubt on this topic, please speak to the instructor(s) before you turn in your assignments. Any form of copying text from another student’s reports, scripts, or any other materials without making references will be treated as academic misconduct. Students are expected to manage their time wisely and start the assignment before the day it is due, such that assistance can be sought from the instructor(s) if needed. It is extremely important that you start these assignments early so that you have ample time to ask for help if you need it. Coding help sessions and/or coding office hours will be held periodically throughout the semester.
Class Projects
All students will undertake a semester project using observation data. Groups must identify a research focus and appropriate datasets for their projects. A variety of datasets will be offered as options and groups are welcome to source data from available archives that meet their interests or could advance student thesis/dissertation research. All group members must agree on the research area. Instructors offer their support as dataset 'advisors' when applicable, though outside datasets may not fall under the expertise of any instructor. After identifying a given dataset/datasets, students will develop a research question to explore. This year's course enrollment lends itself to student group distributions made up of 1 graduate student and a few undergraduate students per group. Graduate students will have opportunities to develop leadership and mentoring skills in this setting. The projects will have three graded components:
- Proposal + Literature Review
Student groups are expected to complete a thorough but concise review of the literature and include it in a 5 page proposal outlining their project goals. The 5 page limit will include introduction, background, literature review, research questions, and proposed work (and any figures). Not included in the 5 page limit but still required for submission will be a timeline of project milestones and task delegation (if applicable) and a reference list. The format will closely resemble that of a funding agency proposal but with a much shorter length. - Mid-point Progress Report
Halfway through the progress period, student groups will be required to submit a progress report similar in nature to the reports required by funding agencies during a funding period. This report will have specific sections to complete. This will be an opportunity to receive feedback on progress, negotiate any obstacles, and chart a path for successful completion. - Final Project Materials
At the conclusion of the semester, student groups will submit a journal article style written paper covering their research project, up to 12 pages in length. In group settings only one paper will be submitted, and students must additionally provide clear indication of components contributed by each group member. Depending on the format and make up of the class, presentations will also be delivered as conference style sessions (~12 min talks), lightning rounds (~3-5 min talks), or poster sessions. Details will be organized at the beginning of the project planning period. The final electronic submission of class project materials will be due by the end of the final exam period for this class, unless otherwise noted.
Attendance, Late, and Make-up Policy
Attendance is expected at every class session. We do understand that life happens and some events and obligations may present conflicts. Students are expected to communicate about known conflicts or events that will require absences prior to the missed session. Attendance will not be recorded, but in an upper level/graduate class, students are expected to behave responsibly including being present and engaged during class. Frequent, repeated absences may result in contact from the instructor(s) and discussion of paths forward to ensure success.
All assignments are expected to be submitted on time, given that each homework assignment provides nearly two weeks for completion. Generally, late assignments will not be accepted. Make-ups or substitutes for missed assignments will generally not be accepted or approved except on a case-by-case basis under special circumstances. The schedule for the course is documented in advance, so students are expected to work with the instructor(s) to develop a strategy to meet course goals if absences or issues arise.
Civility Policy
Any successful learning experience requires mutual respect on behalf of the student and the instructor. The instructor, as well as the fellow students, should not be subjected to any student's behavior that is in any way disruptive, rude, or challenging to the instructor's authority in the classroom or in other education settings (office hours, field sites, etc.). A student should not feel intimidated or demeaned by his/her instructor and students must remember that the instructor has primary responsibility for control over classroom behavior and maintenance of academic integrity. The instructor can order the temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct violating the general rules and regulations of the University of Oklahoma. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following: repeatedly receiving audible cell phone/computer/smart device notifications during class, leaving class early or coming to class habitually late, talking out of turn, doing assignments for other classes, sleeping, and engaging in other activities that detract from the classroom learning experience. There may be a range of experience levels in this class regarding instrument platforms and coding proficiency. Belittling others and their perceived ability or experience level will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
General Policies and Information
Academic Misconduct
All provisions of the Norman Campus Academic Misconduct Code shall apply in cases of academic dishonesty. Academic misconduct is defined as “any act that improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement.” All faculty at the University of Oklahoma expect academic integrity from each student. Misconduct such as plagiarism, fabrication and fraud, as well as attempting to commit such acts or assisting others in doing so, will not be tolerated. Students are responsible for knowing the academic misconduct code (http://integrity.ou.edu/files/Academic_Misconduct_Code.pdf), which is included in the student code. All instances of alleged academic misconduct will be thoroughly investigated and action will be taken according to the rights and responsibilities described under the academic misconduct code: http://integrity.ou.edu/files/Academic_Misconduct_Code.pdf.
Reasonable accommodation
The University of Oklahoma is committed to provide reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course are requested to speak with the professor as early in the semester as possible. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course. The Disability Resource Center is located in the University Community Center at 730 College Ave., phone 405-325-3825 and email adrc@ou.edu.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Please see www.ou.edu/content/eoo/pregnancyfaqs.html for commonly asked questions.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8a-5p) or the Sexual Assault Response Team 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Mental Health Support Services
Support is available for any student experiencing mental health issues that are impacting their academic success. Students can either been seen at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located on the second floor of Goddard Health Center or receive 24/7/365 crisis support from a licensed mental health provider through TELUS Health. To schedule an appointment or receive more information about mental health resources at OU please call the UCC at 405-325-2911 or visit University Counseling Center. The UCC is located at 620 Elm Ave., Room 201, Norman, OK 73019.
Religious Holiday Policy
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required course work that may fall on a religious holiday.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU’s Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Emergency Protocols
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather:
If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather.
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances. In the NWC, these are located in the auditoriums on the ground floor (1313/1350).
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows. In the NWC, these are located in the auditoriums on the ground floor (1313/1350).
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder:
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Run: If you believe you can get out of the area WITHOUT encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Hide: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Fight: As a last resort fight to defend yourself.
For more information, visit OU's Active Shooter page. OU offers a video you can watch here: Shots Fired on Campus Procedure – Video
Fire Alarm/General Emergency:
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- LEAVE the building. Do not use the elevators.
- KNOW at least two building exits
- ASSIST those that may need help
- PROCEED to the emergency assembly area. For the NWC this is generally across David L Boren Blvd to the North.
- ONCE safely outside, NOTIFY first responders of anyone that may still be inside building due to mobility issues.
- WAIT for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|