Program Overview

The Program

The Department of Meteorology was founded in 1946 and throughout its history has had one of the leading meteorology programs in the country. It offers both Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.  The program is open to U.S. Officers from all branches of the military service, government civilians, and international officers from allied countries. The objective of the curriculum is to provide students with a sound understanding of the science of meteorology and to develop the technical expertise to provide and utilize meteorological data and models in support of all aspects of weather-dependent operations.

The School

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a graduate university whose emphasis is on study and research programs that are relevant to the Navy's interest, as well as the interest of other arms of the Department of Defense.  NPS students are recognized as being at the forefront of their fields and NPS is committed to providing these students with the best learning environment and faculty support available.  Along with a superior education, students enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Monterey Peninsula.  Diverse attractions, an excellent school system, and a growing job market help make a tour at NPS a positive experience for the entire family.

Why Study Meteorology at NPS?

• State-of-the-Art teaching and research facilities,  one of the best equipped programs in the country
• Special emphasis on military operations and research
• Individual attention, every class is taught by faculty members
• Joint service interaction - the integration of all branches of the service plus foreign officers provides a unique basis of instruction
• Military exposure -  through high level guest lectures, class work, and military courses
• Co-located with Fleet Numerical Meteorology Oceanography Center, the Naval Research Laboratory- Monterey and the local National Weather Service Forecast Office
• Availability of classified projects and information
• Faculty includes recipients of the Meisinger Award, Fellows of the AMS, AMS science committee chairs, journal editors, and leaders of  national and international research programs
• Member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.   This facilitates close interactions with all leading atmospheric science programs in the nation

Research Facilities

IDEA Lab -  The Interactive Digital Environmental Analysis (IDEA) laboratory has LINUX workstations specifically designed and funded for instruction.  The lab computers analyze and display real-time satellite data and numerical model output.

The Tactical Lab operates an SMQ-11 DMSP satellite receiver that collects and processes classified environmental data and runs military tactical decision aids used to support operations.

NOAA Polar Orbiter Satellite Image of low clouds off the Northwest coast of the U.S.  Curved and linear features are generated by ship traffic under clouds.

The Battlespace Environments Lab uses a suite of computers and advanced display devices to provide local and global real-time meteorological data and numerical products for instruction and research.

 The Measurements Lab provides information from a special near-coastal observation site at Ft. Ord in support of instruction and research in boundary layer and coastal meteorology.  Present instrumentation includes two radar wind profilers, automatic surface weather stations, and rawinsonde systems.

Pelican is a long endurance, optionally-piloted aircraft to perform low altitude atmospheric and oceanographic research and technology development. The vehicle is a modified Cessna model 337 Skymaster twin-engine, centerline thrust airframe with the forward engine eliminated. This aircraft and others are operated by the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) at the Marina airport.

Research Areas

• Synoptic, mesoscale and coastal meteorology
• Numerical  weather  prediction  (NWP)
• Environmental analysis and visualization
• Air-sea interactions
• Satellite and ground based remote sensing
• Tropical meteorology
• Tropical cyclones
• Boundary layer meteorology
• Climate dynamics
• Atmospheric factors in EM/EO propagation

Contact Us

Write to:            Naval Postgraduate School

Department of Meteorology

589 Dyer Rd.  Root Hall, Room 254

Monterey, CA 93943-5114

Telephone:            (831) 656-2516

Fax:                         (831) 656-3061

Email:                      durkee@nps.edu

Home page:           http://www.nps.edu.