Knowledge Expectations for METR 3613
Meteorological Measurement Systems
Purpose: This document describes the principal concepts, technical skills, and fundamental
understanding that all students are expected to possess upon completing METR 3613, Meteorological
Measurement Systems. Individual instructors may deviate somewhat from the specific topics and order
listed here.
Pre-requisites: Grade of C or better in METR 2024 (or 2413), MATH 2443, PHYS 2524.
Students should have a basic understanding of electronics and physics of the atmosphere prior to
starting this course.
Goal of the Course: This course introduces the physical principles of meteorological instruments,
discusses static and dynamic sensor performance, and explores the concepts of meteorological
measurement systems. Through lectures and laboratory exercises, students will learn to work with
meteorological instruments, and to identify sensor limitations and major error sources.
Furthermore, basic procedures of data analysis will be discussed and applied to different types of
data sets.
Topical Knowledge Expectations
I. Major meteorological measurement systems
• Know the main criteria for design of a meteorological network and selection of instruments.
• Know the main sensors generally employed for the near-surface meteorological measurements at
the Oklahoma Mesonet, at ASOS sites, and at the Lake Thunderbird Micronet.
• Basic understanding of the landscape features of the Oklahoma Mesonet and Lake Thunderbird
Micronet sites.
• Basic knowledge of the different types of meteorological data that are recorded at the above
measurement networks.
• Be able to calculate mean values and standard deviations of meteorological variables.
II. Calibration techniques and static performance characteristics.
• Know the conditions under which a static calibration is performed
• Know the definition of static sensitivity and be able to determine it for basic transfer
functions
• Be able to create a transfer plot and a calibration plot, and to interpret both plots.
• Be able to apply the least-square method to determine linear calibration coefficients.
• Understand the difference between sensor bias, imprecision, inaccuracy, and resolution.
• Know the number of significant digits that should be used in data reports
III. Barometry.
• Understand the difference between static and dynamic pressure.
• Know the different pressure units and be able to convert pressure readings from one unit to
another.
• Know the physical principles, technical design and major sources of errors of mercury and aneroid
barometers.
• Be able to apply a temperature and gravity correction to a mercury barometer reading.