Master Program in Applied Meteorology for International Students

Discipline Classification: Science   First Class Discipline Code：0706

First Class Discipline Name：Atmospheric Science

Second Class Discipline Code：0706Z2   Second Class Discipline Name：Applied Meteorology

According to the master’s student program of Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (hereinafter referred to as NUIST), and with reference to the relevant regulations of NUIST on international students, the international student master program of NUIST is formulated as follows:

1. Introduction to the Major

Applied meteorology was originally established in 1960 as an agricultural meteorology major. In 1978, it was granted the right to confer bachelor's and master's degrees. In 1998, it was renamed as applied meteorology major. This major has WMO International Meteorological Application Research Institute, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Agricultural Meteorology, Jiangsu Province Applied Meteorology Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center, Yale-NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment and other international and domestic first-class applied meteorological platforms for teaching and researches.

The faculty of this major is excellent. At present, there are 33 full-time teachers, including 10 professors and 15 associate professors. There are more than 500 undergraduates and more than 160 master students and over 20 PhD students in school. The employment rate of undergraduate students with high quality exceeds 98%, and that of postgraduate and doctoral students with high quality exceeds 100%. The graduates are praised highly by China Meteorological Administration and local meteorological bureaus.

2. Objectives 

Master students are aimed to be trained within the scientific discipline, grasp a broad theoretical foundation and systematic professional knowledge. They are also trained to possess the ability to engage in scientific research or independently undertake work in specialized technology. These students also possess the ability to read Chinese-language documents in the field and also possess relatively strong abilities in listening, reading, writing and translations. Moreover, they possess the ability of writing papers and participating in the international academic exchange.

Master students should maintain amicable feelings towards China and possess good physical and mental health. After graduation, students shall be competent to independently conduct teaching, research, business, and management jobs in institutes of higher learning, research institutes, business departments, and other relevant departments.

3. Study Directions

（1）Agricultural Meteorology;

（2）Urban Meteorology;

（3）Traffic Meteorology;

（4）Land-Atmosphere Exchange;

（5）Meteorological Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

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 writing of 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 fees as required.

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

5. Course Introduction

General Meteorology: Meteorology is used to understand the formation of various atmospheric phenomena, spatial and temporal distribution and climate change. It is the main part of atmospheric science and an important branch of geophysics. This course mainly teaches atmospheric introduction, atmospheric statics, atmospheric thermodynamics, atmospheric radiation process and other related theories, which can lay a theoretical foundation for students to learn other professional courses and conduct meteorological research and related meteorological business work in the future.

Synoptic Theory and Comprehensive Practice: 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. The teaching is aimed at cultivating students’ practical ability and to make students grasp the analysis method of synoptic chart and various technological requirements and initially master forecast methods depended mainly on weather charts by closely combined the theory with the actual cases.

Agro-Meteorology: It is the science that investigates the interaction between meteorological factors and agricultural production. This course mainly teaches the student with the knowledge and basic principles about relationships between crop growth/development, crop yield and meteorological elements. The course contents include some concepts or terms, theories and principles of agro-meteorology (such as the effect of light or radiation, temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind on crop growth, development and yield), agro-meteorological disaster and mitigation, the simulation model of agro-meteorology (the conception of model, method of establishing crop growth model, history of crop growth model and so on). This course can help students improve the ability about how to analyze and solve the agrometeorological problems in agricultural production practice with the with the knowledge and basic principles of agro-meteorology.

Environmental Biophysics: This course describes the physical microenvironment in which living organisms reside and present a comprehensive discussion of heat-and mass-transfer models and apply them to exchange processes between organisms and their surroundings. Learning this course, students can master the interaction between temperature, water vapor, wind speed, and radiation and biology. Students can recognize and explain the physical characteristics of heat and mass exchanges between biology and environment. Radiation balance equation and heat balance equation on the uniform underlying surface can be understood. Students can use these theories in plant system model.

Modern Meteorological Statistical Method: This course explains the basic principles and implementation methods of common statistical methods such as variance analysis, correlation and regression analysis, climate trend analysis, discriminant analysis and cluster analysis, and the applications of these statistical methods in meteorological scientific research and meteorological service. This course focuses on developing students’ ability to solve practical problems and lays a foundation for further study or work.

Principles of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS): Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) are important components of space information technology. This course mainly consists of the learning of the physical theory of remote sensing and geographic information system, remote sensing image processing, remote sensing and spatial data analysis and modeling, spatial data products such as content. It’ll make the students master the basic concept of spatial information technology, basic theory and application methods, and lay a good foundation for the application of modern science and technology. This course is a combination of theoretical knowledge and software operation.

Atmospheric Physics: It is a sub-discipline of atmospheric science. It is concerned with the state, process, evolution and underlying physics of phenomena in the atmosphere. The course aims to show how basic physical principles can be applied to help us to understand the workings of the Earth’s atmosphere. Introduction to atmospheric physics, the physical science basis for climate change, atmospheric statics, atmospheric thermodynamics and radiative transfer will be taught and discussed in this course. The course consists of three times homework and one final exam.

Ecological Meteorology: This course is a branch of Bio-meteorology, which focuses on ecosystem and studies the effects of weather and climate processes on the structure and function of ecosystems and feedback effects. It is an emerging science formed by the intersection of meteorology, ecology and environmental science. Nowadays, ecological and environmental problems are prominent. Global warming, degradation of biological resources and land resources and other problems directly threaten human survival and sustainable development. Learning the course is of positive significance for ecological and environmental governance and green development. The teaching content mainly includes the theoretical knowledge of ecological meteorology, the monitoring and evaluation of ecological meteorology and the related research methods and applications.

Introduction to Earth Science: This course mainly introduces the earth's materials, including minerals and rocks, and the earth's resources; the earth's internal structure, including the earth's internal structure, volcanoes and earthquakes; earth surface profiles, including soil, rivers, groundwater, deserts, and the role of wind, water, and glaciers in sculpturing the earth's surface; the ocean, including the movement of the ocean, sea water temperature, etc.; the earth's atmosphere, including the composition and structure of the atmosphere, the characteristics and changes of various meteorological elements, weather systems and climate change. Through this course, students will master the material composition of the earth, the structure and geophysical properties of the earth; and basic characteristics of atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and soil, understanding of external forces such as weathering, rivers and glaciers. And students should deeply be aware of the interaction between the spheres that make up the earth system, forming the concept of the earth as a system.

Global Climate Change: Environmental concerns have become increasingly important in our world. Much of this is caused by the fact that the mutual effects between the society and natural environment. Perhaps the best example to this scenario is the phenomenon of global climate change and the social, ethical, economic and political as well as environmental consequences that will result from it. Global climate change is a unique issue in that it is biosphere in nature, meaning it will impact people, societies and ecosystems. It also provides arguably the greatest challenge currently facing humanity over the coming decades. That challenge also represents unique opportunities for involving many in coming up with innovative solutions that can help mitigate some of the most severe impacts climate change will impose upon humanity. Global climate change will seek to examine these themes through an interdisciplinary lens that includes physical, natural and social science. Our class will address the core topics that are central to understanding global climate change. We will begin with an examination of “Climate Change Basics”. This section will provide you with the fundamental scientific understanding you need by examining the scientific principles and concepts that underlie climate change. The scientific method and its application will be central to your knowledge of climate change. They will serve as the basis for “Climate Change: Facts, Causes, Predictions, Impacts, and Adaptions” which follows. We will examine what climate change will mean from a global perspective—examining ecosystems and people around the world in highlighting vulnerabilities. This section will also focus on how changing environmental conditions can affect social conditions. We will conclude with a section on “Climate Change Actions: Mitigation and Policy” which will discuss how the world arrived at the point we are at and what can be done about it, including current and future strategies.

Urban Climatology: This course is about interaction between urban morphology, structure and climatic factors. It also focuses on how to mitigate the negative effects of urban development on climatic and ecological environment. Based on energy, radiation balance and atmospheric turbulence theory, this course further investigates the variation and characteristics of several climatic factors: radiation, heat, water, atmosphere and wind in urban ecosystem. The objective is to help students master the basic theory and method of urban climatology, better understand how urban development interacts with climatic factors and be able to deal with the problems of urban climate and human survival brought by urban development. This can lay solid foundation for future study in other fields such as public meteorological service, urban and local environment design and so on.

Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry: Primary air pollutants emitted from anthropogenic emissions undergo a series of photochemical reactions, resulting in production of secondary pollutants and influencing air quality, atmospheric environment and human health. In the curriculum of Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, we introduce some photochemistry topics; mainly focus on atmospheric structures, atmospheric chemical compositions and climate change, photochemical reactions and kinetics in troposphere and stratosphere, aerosol and rainwater chemistry. This designed course leads students to understand the evolutions, fates, photochemical processes and emission sources of air pollutants in the atmosphere.

6. Training Style and Methods

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

The training of master students is implemented by the supervisor tutorial system. In this way, supervision is carried out under the supervisor and with a group of others.

7. Midterm Evaluation 

Master students in the third semester will have midterm evaluation which is to evaluate students’ moral behavior, course score, research progress and other related issues. 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 proposal should be completed in the early third semester. 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 in principle are not permitted. If there are, however, major changes in topic selection, the proposal should be rewritten.

（2）Thesis Writing and Requirements

This is conducted according to 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 methods 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 thesis work and excluding the Thesis Proposal, a public academic report should be held at least once. The student’s supervisor and the school affiliated are responsible for assessing the quality of the academic report. Master 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 Academic Activities Brochure and only qualified students can attend final defense.

Attachment: Curriculum for International Master’s Students in Applied Meteorology

Note：A) Public Courses; B) Major Compulsory Course; C) Limited-Elective Course; D) Major Elective Course; E) Practice