SOEE1401 Weather
Assessed Coursework (30%)
Electronic submissions only
Submit through Gradescope on Minerva in 'Submit My Work'
The coursework will account for 30% of your total module mark. Allocation of marks for
each part are indicated below. The coursework involves charts that you will analyse and you
will be asked to make a forecast for Leeming, which is near Leeds.
The tasks are broken down into three parts: 1) marking isobars, fronts and weather on the
chart provided, 2) making a forecast based on charts, and 3) predicting the overnight
minimum temperature.
Charts provided:
•
•
•
•
.
12 UTC on Tue 11th April 2017 Synoptic Analysis chart (A).
Graph for calculating surface winds and overnight temperature adjustment table (B).
14 UTC on Tue 11th April 2017 Station Observation chart (C).
09, 12 and 15 UTC on 11th April 2017 visible satellite images (S1, S2 and S3) and
09, 12 and 15 UTC rainfall radar charts (R1, R2 and R3).
Forecast charts at 00 and 12 UTC on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th April 2017
(F1, F2, F3 and F4), respectively.
Analysis
1. Plot isobars at appropriate 4 hPa intervals on the Station Observation chart (C) using
values of 1008, 1012, 1016, 1020, 1024, and 1028 hPa. Mark on the position of any
fronts and circle where any significant weather is occurring at the observation time.
Upload your annotated chart C to Gradescope.
Forecast
[Worth 15%]
2. In no more than 450 words*, use charts F1 to F4 to describe how the synoptic
situation evolves over the UK during the next two days up to 12 UTC Thursday 13th
April. The way to approach this question is to imagine your description will be read
by a meteorologist who does not have access to the charts. It is your task to provide
the meteorologist with a very clear understanding of the synoptic situation on F1 and
then how this situation evolves through to F4. At least for the F1, you should
describe, in order, pressure systems (highs/lows), airmasses, any fronts,
precipitation, weather, temperatures, dewpoints, clouds, and winds. Then highlight
the main changes from F1 to F4 as appropriate. You have limited wordcount so you
will have to be very concise and clear. You may have to be selective about what you
highlight in terms of changes from F1 to F4.
[Worth 60%]
(*Note: this question has a wordcount maximum of 450 words. I will read and mark
only material up to and including 450 words.)
Page 1 of 3
TURN OVER 3. Estimate the overnight minimum temperature midnight on the 11th April at the
Leeming observation station (marked L on chart C, and also shown in the corner),
using the formula:
Tmin=0.5*(Tmax+Tdmax ) - K
where Tmax and Tdmax are the temperature and dew point temperatures at the
maximum temperature earlier that day (usually around 14 UTC) and K is an
adjustment that depends on the wind speed and cloudiness. The values for K are
given by the table on page B. You will be required to fill in the values for the table
below. The same values will be entered into Gradescope for an equivalent table.
[Worth 25%]
Parameter
Forecast geostrophic wind speed at
За)
time 00:00 UTC for 12/04/17 (answer in
3b)
3c)
3d)
kts)
Forecast geostrophic wind direction
(degrees)
Forecast surface wind speed (answer
in kts)
Forecast surface wind direction
(degrees)
3e)
Tmax (Celsius)
3f)
Tdmax (Celsius)
3g)
Estimated cloud (answer in oktas)
3h)
Adjustment K (no units, see chart B)
3i)
Forecast minimum temp Tmin
Value at Leeming
location
Page 2 of 3
TURN OVER Submission
To submit the assessed coursework, you will need to log into Minerva for SOEE1401 and
proceed to 'Submit My Work' (which is in 'Assessment and Feedback' folder) and click on
the Gradescope link. Once Gradescope loads, click on the 1401 Assessed Coursework
30% link and enter your answers for the coursework.
The Gradescope link will be open approximately a week before the deadline and you can
test submitting answers to become familiar with the system. You can submit updated final
answers up until the due date. Late submissions will be subject to late penalties according
to the School's COPA. No late submissions will be accepted once submissions are graded
and returned.
The assessment will be marked in terms of the following criteria:
1. The correct and accurate plotting of isobars, fronts, and weather, including
correct and appropriate labelling with units where appropriate.
2. The forecast will be marked based on adhering to the instructions in the brief,
accuracy of the predictions, evidence of understanding, clarity of the
description of the forecast, and conciseness of the statements, including
correct terminology and units.
3. The overnight temperature including all the values in the table 3a) to 3i) will be
graded on the accuracy of the values provided in the units requested, where
appropriate.
Finally, please note that the coursework must be all your own work and academic integrity
of submissions will be checked.
Page 3 of 3
END
