Week 19 · Track Forecasting: Steering Flow & Synoptic Interaction Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Steering, synoptic pattern, model/ensemble spread, beta/interaction considerations, consensus and uncertainty. TC Model / Ensemble Consensus Brief Track/intensity guidance, clusters, consensus, outliers, initialization concerns and scenarios. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 20 · Track Ensembles, Consensus & Forecast Error Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Steering, synoptic pattern, model/ensemble spread, beta/interaction considerations, consensus and uncertainty. TC Model / Ensemble Consensus Brief Track/intensity guidance, clusters, consensus, outliers, initialization concerns and scenarios. TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 21 · Intensity Guidance & Coupled Hurricane Modeling Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecast Ocean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty. TC Model / Ensemble Consensus Brief Track/intensity guidance, clusters, consensus, outliers, initialization concerns and scenarios. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 22 · Hurricane Data Assimilation & Targeted Observations Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Aircraft Reconnaissance Analysis Flight level, SFMR, dropsondes, vortex messages, center/pressure/wind estimates, QC and forecast impact. TC Model / Ensemble Consensus Brief Track/intensity guidance, clusters, consensus, outliers, initialization concerns and scenarios. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 23 · Forecast Verification, Best Track & Post-Storm Learning Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 24 · UNIT III QUALIFYING CHECKPOINT — Track, Intensity & Prediction Systems Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Steering, synoptic pattern, model/ensemble spread, beta/interaction considerations, consensus and uncertainty. Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecast Ocean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty. TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Graduate qualifying checkpoint ≥80%
Week 25 · Storm Surge Physics & Coastal Inundation Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Storm Surge & Coastal Hazards Analysis Track/size/intensity, bathymetry/coast orientation, tide context, official surge guidance and uncertainty. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 26 · Tropical Rainfall, Freshwater Flooding & Terrain Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Rainfall & Flood Hazard Analysis Moisture transport, storm motion, terrain, rainbands, QPF, antecedent conditions and flood-risk uncertainty. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 27 · Tropical Tornadoes & Convective Hazards Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Landfall Radar & Tornado Analysis Rainbands, eyewall structure, velocity/rotation, tornado environments, sampling and warning evidence. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 28 · Wind Hazard, Size & Inland Decay Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Inner-Core Structure & Intensity Analysis Eye/eyewall, rainbands, RMW, asymmetry, shear, ERC, convective bursts and intensity-change evidence. TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 29 · Extratropical Transition & Downstream Impacts Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Extratropical Transition Analysis Structural change, trough interaction, baroclinicity, wind-field evolution and downstream impacts. Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Steering, synoptic pattern, model/ensemble spread, beta/interaction considerations, consensus and uncertainty. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 30 · UNIT IV QUALIFYING CHECKPOINT — Tropical Cyclone Hazards Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Storm Surge & Coastal Hazards Analysis Track/size/intensity, bathymetry/coast orientation, tide context, official surge guidance and uncertainty. Tropical Rainfall & Flood Hazard Analysis Moisture transport, storm motion, terrain, rainbands, QPF, antecedent conditions and flood-risk uncertainty. Extratropical Transition Analysis Structural change, trough interaction, baroclinicity, wind-field evolution and downstream impacts. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Graduate qualifying checkpoint ≥80%
Week 31 · Tropical Cyclone Climatology, ENSO & Environmental Modulation Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Graduate Tropical Synoptic Analysis Tropical waves, ridges/troughs, moisture, shear, SST/ocean context, steering and forecast implications. TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 32 · Tropical Cyclones & Climate Change: Detection, Attribution & Risk Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Tropical Cyclone Graduate Capstone Record Research question, data, methods, mathematics, reproducibility, results, limitations and operational relevance. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 33 · Graduate Research Design in Hurricane Science Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Cyclone Graduate Capstone Record Research question, data, methods, mathematics, reproducibility, results, limitations and operational relevance. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 34 · Displaced Real-Time Case I — Genesis to Hurricane Forecast Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Displaced-Real-Time Hurricane Operations Log Time-stamped evidence, forecast decisions, updates, briefing/hazard decisions and verification. Tropical Cyclogenesis Diagnostic Disturbance structure, vorticity, convection, moisture, shear, ocean state, model evidence and genesis probability. Tropical Cyclone Track Forecast Steering, synoptic pattern, model/ensemble spread, beta/interaction considerations, consensus and uncertainty. Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecast Ocean/atmosphere environment, inner-core state, shear, moisture, RI signals, model guidance and uncertainty. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 35 · Displaced Real-Time Case II — Landfall Operations Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Displaced-Real-Time Hurricane Operations Log Time-stamped evidence, forecast decisions, updates, briefing/hazard decisions and verification. Storm Surge & Coastal Hazards Analysis Track/size/intensity, bathymetry/coast orientation, tide context, official surge guidance and uncertainty. Tropical Rainfall & Flood Hazard Analysis Moisture transport, storm motion, terrain, rainbands, QPF, antecedent conditions and flood-risk uncertainty. Landfall Radar & Tornado Analysis Rainbands, eyewall structure, velocity/rotation, tornado environments, sampling and warning evidence. TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Week 36 · GRADUATE QUALIFYING FINAL — Tropical Meteorology & Hurricane Science Higher Learning Mathematics Required Graduate Evidence Tropical Cyclone Graduate Capstone Record Research question, data, methods, mathematics, reproducibility, results, limitations and operational relevance. Displaced-Real-Time Hurricane Operations Log Time-stamped evidence, forecast decisions, updates, briefing/hazard decisions and verification. TC Forecast Verification & After-Action Review Track/intensity error, timing, cone/uncertainty interpretation, hazard outcomes and corrective learning. Assigned Tropical Resources Weekly synthesis / case / oral practical ≥80%
Graduate qualifying checkpoint ≥80%