Meteorology

What is Meteorology?

Meteorology is that area of the environmental sciences concerned with the effects of Earth's atmosphere on human activities and the effect of humankind on the air. The undergraduate program is solidly based on course work in chemistry, humanities, mathematics and physics, combined with specialized environmental science and meteorology courses. This combination of sciences and humanities, coupled with technical electives during the junior and senior years, allows the meteorology major to build a strong foundation with enough flexibility to meet his or her individual interests. Theoretical concepts are reinforced by laboratory programs and multimedia field studies, and by a summer project between the junior and senior years. Visit the Meteorology Home Page for a closer look.

Why Meteorology at Florida Tech?

Florida Tech is an ideal location for the study of meteorology. Central Florida is a transition zone between a tropical climate to the south and a humid subtropical climate to the north. The Florida Peninsula is surrounded by oceanic currents of the Gulf Stream that modify the state's weather, which is punctuated by thunderstorms, lightning and hurricanes. The Cape Canaveral area, where Florida Tech is located, has numerous atmospheric sciences activities including the NEXRAD facility of the NOAA National Weather Service, the rocket launch complex of the NASA Kennedy Space Center and the USAF Weather Squadron, the Florida Solar Energy Center, and several major engineering companies. The meteorology program also has access to data from a remote weather station at Sebastian Inlet operated by the ocean engineering program, and some of the data analysis can be viewed on the Meteorology Home Page. Finally, the broadcast facilities of National Public Radio station WFIT add to the educational experience. Dr. Steven Lazarus's research interests include mesoscale analysis and modeling-with a focus on complex terrain and severe weather.