Dr David Musembi. Ag. ChairmanIntroduction
The department of Meteorology in the School of Earth Sciences and is currently offering a professional undergraduate course leading to a B.Sc. degree in Meteorology. The South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) is uniquely located in a dry environment where the local population derives its livelihood on rain fed agriculture. Rainfall is unreliable and its frequent failure results in crop failure and death of animals due to lack of feed, with limited contingency for mitigation. When the rains come, large amount of water is lost to the ocean due to inadequate skills to harvest it. In addition, infrastructure is destroyed, leading to poor access to markets. This scenario is replicated in most parts of the country, making it necessary to train manpower with the necessary skills for early warning and timely intervention.
Vision
To be a department offering globally competitive academic programmes in atmospheric sciences and a leader in Innovative research that transforms lives in dry areas.
Mission
To provide top quality and transformative education through teaching and learning, research and extension with emphasis on agriculture, natural resources and environmental management.
Objectives
a) Develop undergraduate and postgraduate (PGD, Master’s and Ph.D.) programmes that meet the needs of dry land agriculture, water sciences and environment technologies
b) Conduct research that provides answers for environmental and atmospheric problems encountered in the dry lands and Kenya as a whole
c) Develop outreach systems which facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology to key stakeholders.
d) Develop human capacity for research in atmospheric sciences
e) Be involved in the formulation of policies that affect the realization of agricultural potential in the dry lands
f) Create partnership with institutions and organizations involved in atmospheric and environmental research in order to promote productivity of the dry lands
g) Mobilize resources for developing the physical infrastructure for the department and its research programmes through formulation of proposals
Career opportunities for graduates
Graduates in B.Sc. Meteorology may be employed as forecasters at the Kenya Meteorological Department and in the aviation industry, as agrometeorologists/agroclimatologists in national agricultural research institutes, as hydrometeorologists in the ministry of water and in NGOs involved in food security and environmental conservation.
B.Sc. Degree in Meteorology Course Outline
FIRST YEAR:
UNITS
Core Courses in Meteorology:
SMR 101: - Introduction to Meteorology I
SMR 102: - Introduction to Meteorology II
SMR 103: - Quantitative Methods and Computer Applications in Meteorology I
Core Requisite Courses in Mathematics:
SMA 101: - Basic Mathematics
SMA 103: - Calculus I
SMA 104: - Calculus II
Core Requisite Courses in Physics:
SPH 101: - Mechanics I
SPH 102: - Electricity and Magnetism I
SPH 103: - Waves and Optics
SECOND YEAR:
Core Courses in Meteorology:
SMR 201: - Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation
SMR 202: - Atmospheric Radiation and Optics
SMR 203: - Quantitative methods and Computer Applications in Meteorology II
SMR 204: - Weather Analysis
Core Requisite Courses in Mathematics:
SMA 201: - Advanced Calculus
SMA 203: - Linear Algebra I
SMA 221: - Vector Analysis
SMA 240: - Probability and Statistics I
Core Requisite Courses in Physics:
SPH 201: - Mechanics II
SPH 202: - Electricity and Magnetism II
SPH 203: - Structures and Properties of Materials
SPH 204: - Mathematical Physics
THIRD YEAR:
Courses in Meteorology:
SMR 301: - Dynamic Meteorology I
SMR 302: - Tropical Meteorology I
SMR 303: - General Circulation and Climatology
SMR 304: - Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Analysis
SMR 305: - Applications of Statistical Methods in Meteorology I
SMR 306: - Quantitative Methods and COmputer Applications in Meteorology III
SMR 307: - Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics
SMR 308: - Principles and Applications of Remote Sensing in Meteorology
SMR 309: - Hydrometeorology I
SMR 310: - Agrometeorology I
FOURTH YEAR:
Courses in Meteorology:
SMR 401: - Dynamic Meteorology II
SMR 402: - Tropical Meteorology II
SMR 403: - Project Work
SMR 404: - Operational Training Course (OTC)
SMR 405: - Applications of Statistical Methods in Meteorology II
SMR 406: - Quantitative Methods and Computer Applications in Meteorology IV
SMR 407: - Micrometeorology and Atmospheric Pollution
SMR 408: - Principles of Renewable Energy Resources
SMR 409: - Hydrometeorology II
SMR 410: - Agrometeorology II
Teaching Staff and their designation
School of Earth Sciences
Dean: Prof. E. M. Mathu, Dept. of Geological Sciences
Department of Meteorology
Dr. D.K. Musembi, Lecturer, Ag. Chairman of Department
Ms. M. W. Mwangi, Asst. Lecturer
Mr. N. M. Kerandi, Asst. Lecturer
