Course Registry

To provide a basic knowledge of the main observing systems in operational use and an understanding of the data they produce.

The Observation Systems and Data Appreciation course is designed primarily for those who have an underlying knowledge of meteorology acquired through foundation meteorology, forecaster training or to an equivalent level by other means.

After completing this course you will be able to:

• describe for each of the main observing systems operated by the Met Office:
  • the physical principles behind the measurements;
  • the system design and the way the data are processed;
  • the characteristics of the data;
  • the sources of error and how they are minimised;
  • the observing network and how it is managed and maintained.
• explain how satellites are used for observing the atmosphere and oceans;
• describe the characteristics of the data obtained from the different types of instrument;
• explain how NWP models use observations within their data assimilation systems and how the quality of the observations may be monitored by these systems;
• describe various development activities underway to improve the way observations are made in the atmosphere and oceans;
• describe the global observing systems and the way international activities contribute to their development.