CMet Syllabus

Core Syllabus of Meteorological Science for CMet

This Section contains a very broad summary syllabus intended to cover the essential basics of the subject of meteorology.

Without some knowledge of the majority of the topics listed, the Society believes it is not reasonable for an individual to be regarded as a professional meteorologist. It is specifically required under paragraph 2.2 of the document Full Details of Scheme.

The syllabus is to be used in two ways. If a course has covered the majority of the topics listed, successful completion of that course will be taken to show that an applicant for Chartered Meteorologist has had systematic training in meteorology. If no such course can be quoted it will be the task of the Interview Panel to satisfy itself that the applicant has adequate knowledge of topics within the syllabus. Note that this syllabus is indicative rather than absolute and will be revised periodically.

Because the qualification of Chartered Meteorologist is intended to recognise a wide variety of backgrounds and specialisations, we expect the concepts to be understood at a variety of levels by different applicants. In any case mathematical derivations will not be demanded. As an example, we do not expect the equations of motion to be derived, but will demand that the physical processes on which they are based can be described accurately.

  • Physical Meteorology
    • Atmospheric composition and structure - stratosphere, troposphere and boundary layer
    • Electromagnetic radiation - interaction with the atmosphere and at the earth's surface
    • Hydrostatic equation, static stability/instability
    • Hydrostatic equation, static stability/instability
    • Thermodynamics - First and Second Laws, equations of state, adiabatic processes, lapse rates
    • Diffusion processes - molecular and turbulent
    • Surface-atmosphere interactions
    • Physics of cloud and fog
    • Precipitation mechanisms
  • Dynamical meteorology
    • Potential and kinetic energy, linear and angular momentum, vorticity
    • Conservation laws
    • Forces on air in motion - physical principles leading to equations of motion
    • Geostrophic motion
    • Waves - planetary, frontal and gravity
  • Meteorological observations
    • Measurement of surface pressure, temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation
    • Upper air observations
    • Weather satellite data - from polar orbiting and geostationary satellites
    • Radar observation of precipitation
    • Observation and communication systems
    • Role of the World Meteorological Organization
  • Synoptic meteorology
    • Atmospheric phenomena - cyclones and anticyclones, fronts
    • Synoptic analysis - surface and upper air charts, aerological diagrams, air masses
  • Mesoscale Effects
    • Thunderstorms
    • Local circulations
    • Mesoscale convection systems
  • Climatology
    • Distinction between weather and climate
    • Global energy budget
    • General circulation - Hadley and Ferrel cells, surface wind patterns, seasonality
    • Effects of topography
    • Climate change
  • Numerical Modelling
    • Physical basis of weather and climate modelling
    • Parameterization
    • Predictability

See the links on the left for more information including currently evaluated courses