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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:

  1. high quality fundamental physical sciences,
  2. up to date current meteorological knowledge and skills including forecasting, experimental, theoretical and research techniques,
  3. expert knowledge in the physical climatic processes of tropical Africa, and
  4. 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