Introduction

With the rapid industrialization, extension of electrical power usage and sophistication of the day-to-day life, the weather and climate have become a subject of utmost interest not only among the Atmospheric Scientists but in the entire civil society as well. During the last couple of decades the weather and climatic patterns have undergone severe changes, both on global and local scales. The scientific community attributes these adverse changes in atmospheric patterns to the human activities. Therefore, educating the scientific community in Atmospheric Physics and Meteorology is an essential ingredient in the promotion of civil life for better living standards

The aim of this MSc programme is to provide postgraduate degree opportunities locally for graduates who are in need of postgraduate training in the fields of atmospheric physics, meteorology and weather forcasting. It also deals with imparting of strategic knowledge, experience, and skills necessary to use modern methodologies in using meteorological instruments and information in predicting weather and climatic patterns

Eligibility and Admission Criteria

B.Sc. Degree (general or special) with Physics as a subject or BSc Degree in Engineering or any other equivalent qualification acceptable to the Senate of the University of Colombo.

Program Structure

Code

Course Module

Paper No

Hours

Credits

Part I

MAP 5101

Atmospheric Radiation & Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics

1

45 L

3

MAP 5102

Advanced Fluid Dynamics

2

15 L

1

MAP 5103

Optics and Acoustics of Atmosphere

15 L

1

MAP 5104

Atmospheric Electricity

15 L

1

MAP 5110

Atmospheric Physics and Meteorology Laboratory

3

180 P

6

MAP 5201

Advanced Electrodynamics

4

15 L

1

MAP 5202

Physics of Lightning

30 L

2

MAP 5203

Dynamic Meteorology

5

45 L

3

MAP 5301

Data Acquisition & Meteorological Instrumentation

6

30 L

2

MAP 5302

Radar and Satellite Meteorology

15 L

1

MAP 5303

Mathematical Modelling of Atmosphere

7

30 L

2

MAP 5304

Meteorological Data Management

15 L

1

Part II

MAP 5401

Special Topics of Atmospheric Physics

8

15 L

1

MAP 5402

Application of Meteorological measurements

15 L

1

MAP 5410

Research project

6 months

6

Total Credits

32

Performance of students in each of the theory courses will be evaluated through a written examination. The examinations will be held at the end of each semester. Course modules included in each of the written examinations are listed above. Each paper will be of either two or three hour duration. According to the guidelines of the faculty, those who fail the written examinations will be allowed to repeat each paper once, at the next available opportunity.

In the practical courses, students will be assessed on a continuous basis. The evaluation will be based on their performance in the laboratory and, on the quality of written reports.

Each student will be required to carry out the research project under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the department. At the end of the project, the student will be required to submit a comprehensive dissertation. The evaluation of the research project, which will be based on the dissertation and a viva-voce examination, will be carried out according to the general guidelines of the faculty.

Further Information

Further information regarding the M.Sc. Program can be obtained by contacting the program coordinator.

Contact details of the program coordinator are as follows.

Dr. K. P. S. C. Jayaratne, Department of Physics,, University of Colombo, Colombo 3.

Telephone: 011 2584777,

Email: chandana@phys.cmb.ac.lk