General meteorology and oceanography
About the course
The course is available as a singular course. The course is also available to exchange students and Fulbright students.
The course introduces meteorology and oceanography as fundamental physical disciplines, the physics of the atmosphere and the ocean correspondingly. Both meteorology and oceanography are built up on fluid dynamics. The essential parts of general fluid dynamics on a rotated sphere (on the planet Earth) will be introduced.
Meteorology (the atmospheric physics) includes knowledge to understand weather, climate, and main principle of the weather forecast.
Oceanography (the physics of the ocean) includes knowledge to understand the ocean currents, ocean climate, and the role of the ocean in the climate system.
The course will introduce the most used meteorological and oceanographical datasets and methods of the Earth’s Observations.
Admission requirements
Admission requirements are generell studiekompetanse + SIVING.
Local admission, application code 9391 - enkeltemner i ingeniørfag.
Objectives of the course
Knowledge - a student will be able:
- Operate with the main concepts of atmospheric and ocean physics, describe general approach to weather forecast, modeling of the atmosphere and ocean, as well as understand the physical basis of climate change projections.
- Understand the main types of meteorological/oceanographical problems with fundamental knowledge of proper physical laws.
Skills - a student will be familiar with:
- Fundamental aspects of fluid dynamics of oceans and atmospheres
- The main concepts of synoptic meteorology and weather forecast
- The fundamental approach to assess renewable energy resources (hydropower, wind, wave, and solar power).
- The meteorological/oceanographic datasets and the methods of the Earth data collection and processing.
- Meteorological and oceanographic modeling at initial level.
General expertise - a student will show:
- Familiarity with meteorology and oceanography as physical disciplines.
- Experience with meteorological and oceanographical theoretical analysis, data analysis, and computer modeling.
Prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
FYS-1001 Mechanics, MAT-1001 Calculus 1, MAT-1002 Calculus 2, MAT-1010 Calculus, MAT-1020 Linear algebra
Teaching methods
Lectures: 30 hours.
Project work and supervision: 30 hours.
One slot (4 hours) will be used for a weather walk - practical weather observations and data collection training.
Language of instruction and examination
The language of instruction is English, and all the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language.Schedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
Information to incoming exchange students
Examination
| School exam | Date: 08.12.2026 09:00 Duration: 4 Hours |
Grade: A–E, fail F |
To take an examination, the student must have passed the following coursework requirements
| Mandatory assignment 1 | Grade: Approved – not approved |
| Mandatory assignment 2 | Grade: Approved – not approved |
Everything you need to know about before, during, and after the exam; registration, absence, appeals, and diplomas: UiT Exams homepage