BSc. Meteorology and Climate Science
Overview
The subject of meteorology and climate science is very important in the socio-economic and sustainable development of any country. Indeed, it is a recognized fact that Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change, and also with the least capacity to respond. It is also a known fact that most of Africa’s disasters are meteorologically related. Meteorological information is therefore relevant and important in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the development process of African countries in general. Much of Africa’s agriculture is rain-fed, and this brings to the fore, the significance of climate in the realization of the SDG’s in Africa and its overall sustainable development. In fact, the consequences of climate change on the social and economic development of individuals, communities, nations and the whole world is a topical subject in every walk of life.
In Ghana, and Africa in general, meteorologists and climate scientists are needed in vital areas of the economy such as agriculture, fisheries, the water sector, weather forecasting, aviation, and disaster mitigation among others. Due to their impacts on human livelihoods, these areas are crucial in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Therefore, it is a fact that Ghana desperately needs degree programmes in Meteorology and Climate Science for training the needed manpower to address the lack of trained specialists in the above mentioned areas.
The Department of Physics at KNUST, Kumasi and the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) in Accra had for some time in the past discussed the possibility of introducing degree programmes in Meteorology and Climate Science at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to provide first and foremost the needed man power for the GMet, and for teaching and research at the university. In fact, the GMet had identified KNUST as a strategic partner for the training of meteorologists and climate scientists for the following reasons: the Department of Physics had a very solid foundation programme in physics and mathematics which are the basic tools needed for students of meteorology and climate science, secondly, the availability of the weather station at the Kumasi airport which could be adapted for teaching and practical work.
In the past, many students from African countries including Ghana travelled to Europe, the USA, Canada, just to mention a few, to undertake degree programmes in meteorology and climate science – a practice which added to the brain drain syndrome and therefore failed to address capacity building in the local Higher Educational Institutions and industry. The existence of the degree programmes in Ghana was therefore to ensure first and foremost the training of Ghanaian students locally which would cut down on costs of training them elsewhere as well as minimizing brain drain.
It was envisaged that the meteorology and climate science programme at the undergraduate and master’s level will develop and expand to provide a centre of excellence in climate research at KNUST to benefit not only the nation, the sub-region of West Africa but Africa and the world at large.
It was against this background that the two institutions initiated a joint academic collaboration with the University of Leeds, in the U.K., to introduce the degree programmes with the relevant course modules at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to train meteorologists and climate scientists to enhance the capacity of GMet, the aviation industry and also the University in teaching and research. The joint academic collaboration was financially supported by the U.K. Department of Education and Skills (DfES) through the British Council under the England-Africa Partnership (EAP) for Higher Educational Institutions.
The undergraduate programme in Meteorology and Climate Science started in August, 2008 with students who were selected from Second Year Physics to form the pioneering class of Second Year Meteorology and Climate Science. This is because the First Year Course Structure in Physics and that of Meteorology and Climate Science are the same. So having completed the First Year Course in Physics, these students were chosen based on their own expression of interest and their CWA, to be in the Second Year. They graduated in June, 2010 with BSc (Meteorology and Climate Science) degree. Since then, the Unit has graduated ten (10) other batches of students. The programme was recognised as a Unit/Section and a Coordinator was appointed to that effect in 2008 to head the Unit. The Unit started running MPhil and PhD programmes in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
Aims:
The main aim was to run degree programmes (BSc) in meteorology and climate science that were geared towards the training of students to enable them harness and manage effectively meteorological and climate-related issues of the country and the world at large for socio-economic development.
Objectives
The objectives of the programme were to build human capacity by training and producing graduates equipped with the following:
- high quality fundamental physical sciences,
- up to date current meteorological knowledge and skills including forecasting, experimental, theoretical and research techniques,
- expert knowledge in the physical climatic processes of tropical Africa, and
- social, economic and management qualities.
Structure of the programme
1 Theory (T) = 1 Credit (C) and 4 Practical (P) = 1 Credit (C)
*1 Theory (T) = 1 Credit (C) and 2 Practical (P) = 1 Credit (C)
-
Year One (1) Semester One (1)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
PHY 151
Introductory Mechanics
3
0
3
*CSM 151
Information Technology I
2
2
3
PHY 153
Electricity and Magnetism
3
0
3
PHY 155
Experimental Physics I
1
4
2
MATH 183
Calculus for Physics I
3
0
3
CHEM 155
Basic Physical Chemistry I
2
0
2
ENGL 157
Communication Skills I
2
0
2
FC 181
French for Communication I
2
0
2
Total
18
6
20
-
Year One (1) Semester Two (2)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
PHY 152
Geometrical Optics & Waves
3
0
3
*CSM 152
Information Technology II
2
2
3
PHY 154
Properties of Matter
3
0
3
PHY 156
Experimental Physics II
1
4
2
MATH 184
Calculus for Physics II
3
0
3
CHEM 156
Basic Physical Chemistry II
2
0
2
ENGL 158
Communication Skills II
2
0
2
FC 182
French for Communication II
2
0
2
Total
18
6
20
-
Year Two(2) Semester One (1)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
PHY 251
Electronics I
2
0
2
PHY 253
Classical Mechanics I
3
0
3
PHY 255
Thermodynamics
2
0
2
PHY 257
Experimental Physics III
1
4
2
MATH 291
Linear Algebra for Physics
3
0
3
MET 251
Atmospheric Physics I
2
0
2
MET 253
Fortran for Scientific Computing
2
4
3
FC 281
French for Communication III
2
0
2
ENGL 263
Literature in English I
1
0
1
Total
18
8
20
Year Two(2) Semester Two (2)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
PHY 396
Electromagnetic Theory
3
0
3
MATH 292
Differential Equations for Physics
3
0
3
MET 252
Atmospheric Physics II
2
0
2
MET 254
Python for Scientific Computing
2
4
3
MET 256
Weather Forecasting and Observations
2
4
3
MET 258
Introduction to Oceanography
2
0
2
FC 282
French for Communication IV
2
0
2
ENGL 264
Literature in English II
1
0
1
Total
17
8
19
-
Year Three (3) Semester One (1)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
MATH 395
Mathematics Analysis for Physics
2
0
2
MATH 397
Partial Differential Equation for Physics
2
0
2
PHY 351
Quantum Mechanics I
3
0
3
MET 353
Satellite and Radar Meteorology I
3
0
3
MET 355
Atmospheric and Ocean Dynamics
2
0
2
MET 357
Cloud Microphysics
2
0
2
MET 359*
Atmospheric Science Field Work
0
8
2
MET 361
Tropical Meteorology
3
0
3
Total
17
8
19
MET 359* :(One-week intensive field work before start of second semester)
-
Year Three (3) Semester Two (2)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
MATH 396
Numerical Analysis for Physics
1
4
2
STAT 392
Probability and Statistics for Physics
1
4
2
MET 354
Satellite and Radar Meteorology II
3
0
3
MET 356
Synoptic Analysis and Nowcasting
3
0
3
MET 358
Micrometeorology
2
0
2
MET 360
Atmosphere and Ocean Climate Processes
2
0
2
MET 362
Atmospheric Chemistry
2
0
2
PHY 352
Quantum Mechanics II
3
0
3
Total
17
8
19
-
Year Four (4) Semester One (1)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
MET 451
Aviation Meteorology
3
0
3
MET 453
Control of Air Pollution and Dispersion Meteorology
2
0
2
MET 457
Climate Change: Science, Policy and Management
2
0
2
MET 459
Tropical Climatology
2
0
2
ENVS 451
Environmental Management I
3
0
3
MAS 261
Principles of Management
3
0
3
MET 455
Project I
3
0
3
Total
18
0
18
-
Year Four (4) Semester Two (2)
Code
Course Name
T
P
C
MET 452
Prediction of Tropical Weather Systems
2
0
2
MET 454
Statistical Climatology
2
0
2
MET 458
Agrometeorology
3
0
3
MET 460
Hydrometeorology
2
0
2
MET 462
Biometeorology and Human Health
3
0
3
MAS 262
Corporate Social Responsibility
2
0
2
MET 456
Project II
3
0
3
Total
17
0
17