Master Program in Meteorology for International Students

Discipline Classification: Science       First Class Discipline Code: 0706

  First Class Discipline Name: Atmospheric Science

Second Class Discipline Code: 070601 Second Class Discipline Name: Meteorology 

According to the master’s student program of Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (hereinafter referred to as NUIST) as well as the relevant regulations of NUIST on international students, the NUIST master’s degree program for international students is formulated as follows.

1. Introduction to the Discipline

The School of Atmospheric Science (SAS) of NUIST developed from the Department of Meteorology founded within the Nanjing Institute of Meteorology (the predecessor of NUIST) since its establishment in 1960. It was among the first batch of schools and departments that were authorized by the State Council to offer master’s degree programs in 1978. During the year 1988, Synoptic Dynamics became a Key Discipline of the China Meteorological Administration. In 1997 Climatology became a Key Discipline of the China Meteorological Administration. Atmospheric Science, the level I discipline of SAS, was approved to be a doctoral degree program in 1998, and began to have post-doctoral workshop since 1999. Meteorology, a level II discipline of SAS, was selected as a National Key Discipline in 2002 and 2007. Atmospheric Science was then rated as a Level I Key Discipline of Jiangsu Province in 2008 and an Advantageous Discipline of Jiangsu Province in 2011. It also ranked No. 1 in the third round of national discipline evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Education of China (MOE) in 2012. In year 2017, it became a discipline of the “Double First-Class” Initiative (a state-level initiative that aims at building first-class universities and disciplines of the world), and was rated A+ in the fourth round of national discipline evaluation of MOE.

2. Objectives 

Master students are required to have a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge and grasp systematic professional knowledge. They are also trained to possess the ability to engage in scientific research or independently undertake work related to specialized technology. These students shall also possess the ability to read Chinese-language documents in this field and have relatively strong abilities in listening, reading, writing and translation. Moreover, they shall also be able to conduct international academic exchange.

Master students should have amicable feelings towards China and maintain physical and mental health. After graduation, students shall be competent to independently undertake teaching, research, professional service, and management work in institutes of higher learning, scientific research institutes, service departments, and other relevant positions.

3. Study Directions

(1) Atmospheric Circulation Dynamics;

(2) Typhoon and Micro- and Mesoscale Meteorology;

(3) Data Assimilation and Numerical Prediction;

(4) Climate Numerical Simulation;

(5) Theory and Methodology for Weather Forecasting;

(6) Short-Term Climate Prediction;

(7) Climate Change and Regional Response.

4. Educational System, Length of Study and Credit Requirements

The length of education for master students is two (2) years.

If due to special circumstances a master student is unable to graduate on time, the student must apply in person, and following the supervisor’s opinion and signature, the approval of the affiliated School must be sought. The application should then be submitted to the Graduate School for approval and the College of International Students for archiving. The maximum length of time that master’s students can study at the University in that degree is five (5) years and during this extension period, international students shall pay for the study and accommodation as required.

Credit Requirements: For master’s courses, a credit system has been implemented, which consists of both degree and non-degree courses. Degree courses must be no less than fifteen (15) credits, and the total number of credits must equal twenty-six (26) or more.

5. Course Introduction

Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics: This course concerns itself with the motions of the atmosphere that are associated with the weather and climate. A primary goal of this course is to interpret the observed structure of large-scale atmospheric motions with the governing equations for atmospheric motions. These equations, which express the conservation of momentum, mass, and energy, completely determine the relationships among the pressure, temperature, and velocity fields.

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics: This course introduces the fundamental dynamical concepts of large-scale motions of the oceans and atmosphere. Two features that are common to many of the phenomena studied in geophysical fluid dynamics are the rotation of the fluid due to the planetary rotation and stratification (layering). We investigate these through the invocation of inviscid shallow-water theory where the fluid is assumed to be incompressible. Remarkably, this works well even for a highly compressible fluid like air as long as sound and shock waves can be ignored. The shallow water waves include Poincare, boundary-trapped Kelvin and Rossby waves. The concept of quasi-geostrophic motion, and the mechanism of Rossby waves, inertial boundary currents, the beta-plane, energy propagation, and wave interaction are also introduced to understand fundamental laws of various large-scale motions of the oceans and atmosphere.

Introduction to Atmospheric Science: It covers broad aspects of the atmospheric sciences including atmospheric thermodynamics, atmospheric radiation, world climate, atmospheric numerical modeling, atmospheric dynamics, etc. As it is an introductory course, many concepts in atmospheric sciences are introduced, including the structure, energy, and motions of the atmosphere, climate, fronts, cyclones, clouds and precipitation, weather forecasting, and severe storms. The course includes several homework tasks and a final exam. The students are also required to finish a group presentation project and one individual modeling project.

Principle and Practice of Synoptic Meteorology: Its purpose is to instruct students to understand the basic synoptic theory and the features of the atmosphere activity, and then analyze the evolution of the weather systems correctly. It tries to enable students to grasp the analysis methods and skills of synoptic charts as well as the relevant regulations. Students are also required to learn how to analyze cold wave weather process, large-scale precipitation weather process, etc., and understand the basic content, methods and ideas of weather forecasting. 

Modern Meteorological Statistical Method: It introduces common statistical methods in meteorological scientific research and forecast services and their applications on the basis of probability theory, mathematical statistics, and linear algebra. The course consists of nine chapters, namely 1) meteorological data and its expression method, 2) selection of forecast factors with the maximum information, 3) regression analysis, 4) the climate trend analysis, 5) climate stability test; 6) the Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of meteorological fields, 7) cluster analysis; 8) application of meteorological statistics methods in scientific research, and 9) application of meteorological statistical methods in forecast service. By learning this course, students can be able to apply statistical methods in scientific research and operational forecast service, laying a solid foundation for their future education or professional work.

Global Climate System: It provides the basic concepts of the global climate system and the major findings in this area, along with the fundamental concepts and theories of climate change and climate prediction and the classical statistical methods used to make climate prediction. Also included in this course are the mean states of the atmospheric circulation and the characterization of its anomalies, the low-frequency atmospheric fluctuation and teleconnections, and the interactions among ocean, land, and atmosphere. In addition, the course briefly introduces numerical modeling of the climate system and its major components. This will allow the students to deeply understand how the climate system works, how the climate changes, and how to make correct climate prediction. Finally, taking China's summer drought and flood prediction as an example, the last part shows and summarizes the ideas and process of short-term climate prediction.

Advanced Atmospheric Numerical Simulation: It aims to present the basic equations used in mesoscale climate models, as well as different numerical methods by which we solve these equations. This course contains a lot of programming practice and homework in the teaching process. Therefore, students are required not only to have prior knowledge in advanced mathematics and programming languages, such as FORTRAN, but also to do a lot of reading after class. The final assessment of the course includes three aspects. First, the homework scores. Second, a modeling project during the semester, which consists of constructing a mesoscale model and running simple simulations. Third, a final report by the end of the semester.

Practice of Short-Term Climate Prediction: The main purpose of this course is to let students understand the fundamental concepts and theories of climate change and climate prediction and the classical statistical methods of climate prediction through a series of practical cases, and learn the basic knowledge of climate prediction such as the mean states of the atmospheric circulation and the characterization of its anomalies, and the low-frequency atmospheric fluctuation and teleconnections. Taking China's summer drought and flood prediction as an example, it will allow students to understand the basic ideas and process of climate prediction.

6. Training Style and Methods

The program of master’s students is a combination of course and thesis work. Usually, the course work will be done within one (1) year and the thesis work takes more than one year.

The training of master’s students is implemented with the supervisor tutorial system. With this system, supervision is carried out with a combination of a supervisor and a group of others.

7. Midterm Evaluation 

Master’s students in the third semester will have a midterm evaluation, which is to evaluate students’ moral behaviors, course scores, research progress and other related performances. Students who have failed the evaluation can apply for re-evaluation after six (6) months whereas the postponed period is no longer than one (1) year.

8. Degree Thesis

（1）Topic Selection and Thesis Proposal

The master’s degree thesis proposal should be completed in the early third semester. For those who need to postpone the submission of the proposal due to special circumstances, a written application should be submitted to the Graduate School in advance and the time limit for delay shall not exceed two (2) months. After the proposal is accepted, changes are not permitted in principle. If there is, however, a major change in topic selection, the proposal should be rewritten.

（2）Thesis Writing Requirements

This is in accordance with the University thesis writing requirements.

（3）Thesis Pre-defense and Defense

 Master’s students must complete all the required courses, pass all the courses and midterm evaluation, complete academic and practice activities and acquire required credits before they are allowed to apply for thesis pre-defense which is held before the end of March each year. Then they will go for blind review of the thesis. Only those students who have passed the pre-defense and blind review can apply for the final defense.

（4）Degree Applications

Degree applications is carried out according to the specific implementation procedures outlined in the Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology Masters and Doctorate Degree Conferment Regulations and the Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology Regulations on the Program and Qualifications of International Master Students (Trial).

Students shall pass sufficient courses in the program to get no less than twenty-six (26) credits, achieve required academic results, pass HSK Level 3 (or above) and pass the thesis defense.

9. Practice

Practice is combined with Academic Reports and other practice activities. It is worth two (2) credits.

During the period of master’s degree thesis work, a public academic report should be held at least once (excluding the Thesis Proposal). The student’s supervisor and the school affiliated are responsible for assessing the quality of the academic report. Master’s students should also participate in no less than six (6) academic activities including (but not limited to) academic reports, conferences, teaching and technology competitions both on and off the University campus. Students are required to take records on the Academic Activities Brochure and only qualified students can have the final defense.

Attachment: Curriculum for International Master’s Students in Meteorology