Solanar Graduate Program✦Track 03 · Tropical Meteorology & Hurricane Science✦Dynamics · Prediction · Hazards · Research✦A++ Graduate Curriculum✦80% Hard Mastery✦Higher Learning Mathematics Integrated✦NAIB Research Mentor✦
Tropical Graduate Semester IDynamics, Genesis & Observation
Track HomeTropical LabMathematicsFormsToolsNAIB Mentor
Graduate weeks 1–18

Semester I

Each daily competency ≥80% → evidence complete → weekly practical ≥80% → six-week qualifying checkpoint ≥80% → semester comprehensive ≥80%.

Progress

Week 1 · Tropical Atmosphere as a Distinct Dynamical Regime

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Contrast tropical and extratropical dynamics: weak Coriolis near the equator, deep convection, moist static energy, weak temperature gradients aloft and large-scale overturning.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Calculate Coriolis parameter/inertial scales and review thermodynamic/energy budgets and nondimensional reasoning.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Map tropical latitude belts, ITCZ/monsoon regions and representative pressure/wind/moisture structures.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare tropical analyses with midlatitude analyses and identify which familiar approximations weaken or change.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Establish graduate source/evidence notebook and defend why tropical forecasting requires a distinct conceptual model.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Calculus II∑ Differential Equations

Required Graduate Evidence

Graduate Tropical Synoptic AnalysisTropical waves, ridges/troughs, moisture, shear, SST/ocean context, steering and forecast implications.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🌀 Solanar Tropical Dynamics LabW WMO Tropical Cyclone ForecasterN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 2 · Hadley/Walker Circulations, ITCZ & Tropical Convergence

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study tropical overturning, trade winds, ITCZ structure, Walker circulation and coupling to convection.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Analyze continuity, mass flux and simple circulation/streamfunction relationships.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Diagnose a tropical convergence regime using winds, moisture and satellite imagery.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Connect large-scale circulation anomalies to basin-scale tropical weather.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Write a circulation-to-weather briefing with explicit scale separation.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Calculus II∑ Differential Equations

Required Graduate Evidence

Graduate Tropical Synoptic AnalysisTropical waves, ridges/troughs, moisture, shear, SST/ocean context, steering and forecast implications.
Open Form
Tropical Satellite AnalysisVisible/IR/water-vapor imagery, cloud pattern, center fixes, organization, convective trends and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🛰 NOAA GOES ImageryW WMO Tropical Cyclone ForecasterN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 3 · Equatorial Waves & Tropical Disturbances

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Examine Kelvin, equatorial Rossby, mixed Rossby–gravity and easterly-wave concepts and their relationship to tropical convection.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Use phase speed, wavelength/period and simplified wave relationships; connect to differential-equation solutions conceptually.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Track an archived tropical wave from analysis/satellite sequences.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare disturbance evolution with model guidance and convective envelope changes.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Research memo: distinguish a wave/disturbance from a tropical cyclone and document uncertainty.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Differential Equations∑ Real & Complex Analysis

Required Graduate Evidence

Graduate Tropical Synoptic AnalysisTropical waves, ridges/troughs, moisture, shear, SST/ocean context, steering and forecast implications.
Open Form
Tropical Satellite AnalysisVisible/IR/water-vapor imagery, cloud pattern, center fixes, organization, convective trends and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery🗃 NOAA NOMADSN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 4 · Moist Thermodynamics, Convection & Tropical Instability

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Advance equivalent potential temperature/moist static energy, entrainment, saturation, convective organization and weak-temperature-gradient thinking.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Calculate thermodynamic quantities and sensitivity to SST/moisture/temperature changes.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Compare soundings and moist-energy profiles across developing/nondeveloping environments.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Evaluate model/satellite evidence for deep moisture and persistent convection.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Defend why high SST alone cannot establish cyclone genesis or intensification.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Calculus II∑ Statistics

Required Graduate Evidence

Tropical Cyclogenesis DiagnosticDisturbance structure, vorticity, convection, moisture, shear, ocean state, model evidence and genesis probability.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 5 · Ocean–Atmosphere Exchange & Tropical Cyclone Energy

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study enthalpy flux, momentum exchange, ocean mixed-layer response, cold wakes and coupled intensity limits.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Calculate illustrative flux/wind-stress relationships and sensitivity; distinguish simplified formulas from full coupled physics.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Analyze SST/ocean heat and storm-motion contexts for archived intensity-change cases.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare coupled versus atmosphere-only prediction concepts.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Write an evidence memo on when ocean feedback becomes forecast-critical.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Calculus II∑ Differential Equations

Required Graduate Evidence

Tropical Cyclone Intensity ForecastOcean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research Division🗃 NOAA NOMADSN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 6 · UNIT I QUALIFYING CHECKPOINT — Tropical Foundations

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Synthesize tropical circulation, waves, thermodynamics and ocean coupling.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Complete Coriolis/wave/energy/flux quantitative problems.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Analyze an unseen tropical disturbance environment.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Integrate satellite, synoptic and model evidence.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Deliver a 10-minute scientific defense; each component ≥80%.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Calculus II∑ Differential Equations∑ Statistics

Required Graduate Evidence

Graduate Tropical Synoptic AnalysisTropical waves, ridges/troughs, moisture, shear, SST/ocean context, steering and forecast implications.
Open Form
Tropical Cyclogenesis DiagnosticDisturbance structure, vorticity, convection, moisture, shear, ocean state, model evidence and genesis probability.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

W WMO Tropical Cyclone Forecaster🛰 NOAA GOES ImageryN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Graduate qualifying checkpoint ≥80%

Week 7 · Tropical Cyclogenesis: Necessary Ingredients vs Sufficient Evidence

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Examine low-level vorticity, persistent convection, moisture, shear, instability/ocean state and pre-existing disturbances as interacting genesis ingredients.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Use conditional probability and multivariate reasoning to avoid deterministic ingredient checklists.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Compare developing and nondeveloping disturbances.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Analyze operational genesis guidance/outlooks only as one evidence source, not answer keys.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Create a probabilistic genesis forecast with failure modes and update triggers.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Statistics∑ Linear Algebra

Required Graduate Evidence

Tropical Cyclogenesis DiagnosticDisturbance structure, vorticity, convection, moisture, shear, ocean state, model evidence and genesis probability.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🌀 National Hurricane Center🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery🗃 NOAA NOMADSN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 8 · Vortex Spin-Up, Angular Momentum & Secondary Circulation

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study vortex stretching, absolute angular momentum, boundary-layer inflow, eyewall ascent and upper-level outflow.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Calculate angular momentum and radial/vertical circulation relationships in simplified vortex models.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Construct radial profiles of wind/pressure and diagnose structural evolution.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare observed/research representations of secondary circulation.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Defend how inner-core organization differs from merely having strong convection.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Differential Equations∑ Calculus II

Required Graduate Evidence

Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research Division🌀 Solanar Tropical Dynamics LabN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 9 · Tropical Cyclone Structure: Eye, Eyewall & Rainbands

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study warm-core structure, radius of maximum wind, eyewall slope, rainband dynamics, asymmetry and vortex tilt.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Use radial/tangential wind decomposition and structural metrics.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Analyze satellite/radar/recon cross-sections or radial profiles from an archived storm.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Relate structural changes to track/intensity forecast questions.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Write a structure-first intensity analysis rather than a category-first narrative.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Linear Algebra∑ Calculus II

Required Graduate Evidence

Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form
Tropical Satellite AnalysisVisible/IR/water-vapor imagery, cloud pattern, center fixes, organization, convective trends and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research Division🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery✈ NHC Aircraft ReconnaissanceN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 10 · Environmental Vertical Shear & Vortex Resilience

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Examine shear-induced tilt, ventilation, asymmetric convection, dry-air pathways and resilient/fragile vortex responses.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Calculate deep-layer shear vectors and coordinate-relative asymmetries.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Compare storms that weakened, maintained intensity or intensified under different shear/structure combinations.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Fuse satellite, recon and model shear guidance.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Produce an intensity forecast that treats shear effects probabilistically rather than mechanically.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Linear Algebra∑ Statistics

Required Graduate Evidence

Tropical Cyclone Intensity ForecastOcean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty.
Open Form
Tropical Satellite AnalysisVisible/IR/water-vapor imagery, cloud pattern, center fixes, organization, convective trends and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research Division🗃 NOAA NOMADSN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 11 · Eyewall Replacement Cycles & Internal Intensity Change

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study concentric eyewalls, secondary eyewall formation, wind-field expansion and intensity fluctuations.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Analyze radial wind/pressure profiles and changes in RMW/wind radii.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Document an archived eyewall replacement cycle using satellite/recon/radar evidence.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare model representation with observed structural evolution.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Write a forecast-impact memo separating maximum-wind change from hazard-footprint change.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Statistics∑ Calculus II

Required Graduate Evidence

Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form
Aircraft Reconnaissance AnalysisFlight level, SFMR, dropsondes, vortex messages, center/pressure/wind estimates, QC and forecast impact.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

✈ NHC Aircraft Reconnaissance🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 12 · UNIT II QUALIFYING CHECKPOINT — Genesis & Inner-Core Dynamics

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Synthesize genesis, vortex spin-up, inner-core structure, shear and eyewall cycles.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Complete vortex/angular-momentum/vector/probability problems.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Analyze an unseen developing/intensifying cyclone case.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Integrate satellite/recon/model evidence.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Orally defend genesis/intensity reasoning; all components ≥80%.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Differential Equations∑ Linear Algebra∑ Statistics

Required Graduate Evidence

Tropical Cyclogenesis DiagnosticDisturbance structure, vorticity, convection, moisture, shear, ocean state, model evidence and genesis probability.
Open Form
Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form
Tropical Cyclone Intensity ForecastOcean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

✈ NHC Aircraft Reconnaissance🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Graduate qualifying checkpoint ≥80%

Week 13 · Satellite Tropical Cyclone Analysis

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Advance Dvorak-pattern concepts, microwave/IR/visible structural interpretation, center fixes, convective symmetry and rapid-scan trends without treating any one technique as infallible.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Quantify motion/trend/radial metrics and uncertainty intervals.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Perform multi-time satellite analysis for a developing or changing cyclone.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare satellite-derived interpretation with recon when available.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Create a satellite-only provisional analysis, then update it after independent observations are revealed.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Statistics

Required Graduate Evidence

Tropical Satellite AnalysisVisible/IR/water-vapor imagery, cloud pattern, center fixes, organization, convective trends and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🛰 NOAA GOES Imagery🌀 National Hurricane Center🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 14 · Aircraft Reconnaissance, Dropsondes & Vortex Data

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study reconnaissance mission purpose, flight-level winds, SFMR, dropsondes, center fixes, minimum pressure and data QC/representativeness.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Convert/compare wind measures and calculate gradient/uncertainty examples.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Decode and synthesize an archived recon mission into a storm-state analysis.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Assess how reconnaissance changes analysis/model initialization/forecast confidence.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Write a recon-impact memo documenting what changed and what remained uncertain.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Statistics∑ Linear Algebra

Required Graduate Evidence

Aircraft Reconnaissance AnalysisFlight level, SFMR, dropsondes, vortex messages, center/pressure/wind estimates, QC and forecast impact.
Open Form
Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

✈ NHC Aircraft Reconnaissance🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 15 · Tropical Cyclone Radar & Landfall Structure

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study radar sampling of eyewalls/rainbands, Doppler velocity, mesovortices, tornado-producing cells and landfall structural evolution.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Use vector/radial-velocity calculations and sampling geometry.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Analyze an archived landfall sequence.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Fuse radar with recon/satellite/surface observations.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Prepare a landfall nowcast separating official warning authority from graduate simulation.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Linear Algebra

Required Graduate Evidence

Landfall Radar & Tornado AnalysisRainbands, eyewall structure, velocity/rotation, tornado environments, sampling and warning evidence.
Open Form
Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

📡 NWS Radar🌀 National Hurricane CenterN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 16 · Intensity Estimation, Wind Radii & Pressure–Wind Relationships

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Examine multiple intensity observations/estimates, pressure–wind relationships, storm size, asymmetry and uncertainty.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Fit/compare simple pressure-wind relationships without treating them as universal laws.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Build an intensity evidence table from satellite/recon/surface data.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Compare best-track/operational estimates and discuss revisions.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Defend an intensity estimate with confidence bounds.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Statistics

Required Graduate Evidence

Aircraft Reconnaissance AnalysisFlight level, SFMR, dropsondes, vortex messages, center/pressure/wind estimates, QC and forecast impact.
Open Form
Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

✈ NHC Aircraft Reconnaissance🌀 National Hurricane Center🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 17 · Rapid Intensification: Environment, Inner Core & Predictability

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Study RI as an interaction among ocean state, shear/moisture, vortex structure, convective organization and stochastic/internal processes.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Use probability, thresholds and verification concepts; examine base rates and conditional risk.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Compare RI and false-alarm/non-RI cases.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Evaluate model/ensemble and observational signals without deterministic overconfidence.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Produce a time-updated RI probability brief with explicit bust scenarios.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Statistics∑ Differential Equations

Required Graduate Evidence

Rapid Intensification DiagnosticEnvironmental/inner-core preconditions, observational/model evidence, probabilities, failure modes and updates.
Open Form
Tropical Cyclone Intensity ForecastOcean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research Division🌀 National Hurricane Center🗃 NOAA NOMADSN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%

Week 18 · SEMESTER I COMPREHENSIVE — Tropical Dynamics & Observation

Monday · Tropical Theory & Dynamics

Cumulative tropical dynamics, genesis, inner-core, satellite, recon, radar and intensity examination.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Tuesday · Mathematics & Quantitative Analysis

Complete graduate quantitative tropical-dynamics/statistics problems.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Wednesday · Observation / Case Laboratory

Analyze an unseen cyclone from disturbance through mature structure.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Thursday · Forecast Guidance & Operations

Conduct a timed multi-source intensity/structure forecast exercise.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Friday · Research, Hazards & Defense

Submit research portfolio and oral defense; each component ≥80%.

Examiner/mentor verified competency ≥80%

Higher Learning Mathematics

∑ Differential Equations∑ Linear Algebra∑ Statistics∑ Introduction to Proofs

Required Graduate Evidence

Graduate Tropical Synoptic AnalysisTropical waves, ridges/troughs, moisture, shear, SST/ocean context, steering and forecast implications.
Open Form
Aircraft Reconnaissance AnalysisFlight level, SFMR, dropsondes, vortex messages, center/pressure/wind estimates, QC and forecast impact.
Open Form
Inner-Core Structure & Intensity AnalysisEye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence.
Open Form
TC Forecast Verification & After-Action ReviewTrack/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning.
Open Form

Assigned Tropical Resources

🌀 National Hurricane Center🔬 NOAA AOML Hurricane Research DivisionW WMO Tropical Cyclone ForecasterN NAIB Research Mentor
Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Graduate qualifying checkpoint ≥80%

Semester Comprehensive

Record only after all weekly gates are complete and all written, quantitative, case-analysis and oral components independently meet 80%.

Examiner-verified semester result ≥80%