METEOROLOGY
Meteorology at Los Angeles Pierce College
Are you curious about the world and the atmosphere around you? Have you ever wondered why certain weather events occur? How do tornadoes form? How do clouds and rain develop? Weather is a part of our everyday lives, influencing us in both subtle and obvious ways. As a meteorologist, you can explore these questions by investigating the natural forces that shape our weather and climate.
Meteorology is a major part of the geography program at Los Angeles Pierce College (小蓝视频). It is the science of the atmosphere, derived from the Greek word meteoron, meaning 鈥渟omething that occurs high in the sky.鈥 The ancient Greeks observed clouds, winds, and rain, attempting to understand their interrelationships. Today, meteorologists face complex challenges and must answer difficult questions about the atmosphere鈥檚 behavior and its impact on people. The science of meteorology is still relatively young, with much of the atmosphere鈥檚 behavior yet to be discovered. What unites many meteorologists is a shared excitement and passion for weather, as well as the challenge of understanding and predicting it.
小蓝视频 offers three meteorology courses tailored to both inspiring meteorologist and those who are simply curious about the weather:
- Introduction to Weather and Climate (Geography/Meteorology 3)
- This course examines the Earth's atmosphere, focusing on topics such as Earth-sun relationships, solar and terrestrial radiation, atmospheric moisture, cloud formation, pressure systems, wind flow, storm development, and climate change. Tools of inquiry include weather maps, satellite imagery, and GIS.
- Introductory Meteorology Laboratory (Geography 19/Meteorology 4)
- This course supplements Geography/Meteorology 3 with hands-on lab exercises to deepen understanding of weather and climate processes. Students use meteorological instruments to explore energy balances, humidity, clouds, precipitation, pressure patterns, winds, storms, and climate controls.
- Severe and Hazardous Weather (Geography 23/Meteorology 5)
- Students will learn the basics of atmospheric principles related to severe and hazardous weather, including key conditions and atmospheric dynamics. High-impact weather phenomena like thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, downbursts, tornadoes, hurricanes, and extreme mountain weather will be discussed.
Where Do Meteorologists Work?
U.S Government:
- NOAA
- Navy
- Air Force
Academia:
- Research
- Teaching
Private Industry:
- Airlines
- Broadcasting
- Utilities
- Consulting Firms
Contact Us
Contact
Jason Finley, Ph.D., CCM, GISP
Faculty Advisor, Meteorology
Email: @email
Adrian Youhanna, GISP
Faculty Advisor, Geography/GIS
Email: @email
Ronald K. Faulseit, PhD
Department Chair: Anthropological and Geographical Sciences, American Indian Studies
Email: faulserk@piercecollege.edu