1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Science
  3. Majors, Minors and Specialisations
  4. Climate and Weather

Climate and Weather

Bachelor of ScienceMajorYear: 2022

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Overview

This major will equip you with the skills and knowledge to understand the complexities of our weather and climate, how they vary, and how they will change in the future. The major brings together knowledge from physics, mathematics and chemistry, and applies it to the fields of meteorology and climate science. Completing this major will allow students to understand and explain the fundamental processes that create our weather; lead to storms, cyclones, and other hazards; and combine with natural variations and anthropogenic emissions to change our global and regional climates. You will also learn about the techniques used to build state-of-the-art weather and climate models, understand how they are used, and their limitations.

The major opens doors for careers in meteorology, weather prediction, climate change science, environmental consulting, and research. Employers include CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology, the aerospace industry, local, state and federal governments, and a range of management and environmental consulting firms. Combine studies in meteorology and climate science with other disciplines to improve your knowledge of climate change and its relevance for other sectors.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

  • Explain the weather and climate of the Earth system from the tropics to the polar regions using the fundamental physical principles that govern the atmosphere and oceans
  • Interpret and discriminate global, synoptic, mesoscale and microscale atmospheric and oceanic circulation processes, and phenomena such as storms and extreme weather events such as heat waves and cyclones
  • Explain and identify climate variability and discriminate the key atmosphere, ocean and cryosphere processes and phenomena that controls it
  • Explain and demonstrate the science of past and anticipated future changes to the climate system
  • Assess the local (eg land-use, topography) and global effects (eg greenhouse gas or aerosol forcing) on weather and climate
  • Describe and implement observational techniques for measuring weather and climate variables, and analysis methods for estimating the state of the atmosphere and/or ocean
  • Describe and implement numerical techniques for analysing, simulating and predicting weather and climate variables
  • Integrate physical, chemical, environmental and social knowledge to explain the impacts of complex mechanisms and processes on weather and climate
  • Reflect as active global citizens rigorously, sensitively and sustainably about our shared environment and resources
  • Present findings as written and oral reports to end users (eg the public and industry).

Last updated: 3 May 2024