9352344 Carr The School of Meteorology at the University of Oklahoma will improve the quality and scope of its undergraduate education for both majors and nonmajors through the creation of a computer-based synoptic laboratory. This facility primarily consists of a network of UNIX-based servers and X terminals, and enables students to access and effectively process current and/or archived meteorological data using software produced by the UPC (UNIDATA Program Center). The facility meets three needs. First, it will permit more innovative techniques in exposing nonmajors to scientific concepts which may impact their daily lives, and allow them to gain a better understanding of local and global weather, climate, and environmental issues. Second, this facility will satisfy the need of undergraduate majors in atmospheric science to utilize, software packages on X terminals for simultaneous viewing of text and raster image graphics in a classroom environment. This laboratory will greatly facilitate the teaching of important meteorological concepts via real-time use of conventional, profiler, surface mesonetwork, satellite, radar, and model data. Third, the School will convert from a VMS computing environment to a UNIX-based one, enabling it to fully participate as a primary node in the distribution of weather data over the Internet. The creation of a computer-based synoptic laboratory addresses these crucial needs because of the versatility and power of the UNIX-based servers, and the enhanced graphics capabilities of the X terminals. The quality of undergraduate instruction will be improved considerably since faculty and students will be able to utilize UPC software packages with current or archived meteorological data in both classroom and research endeavors. ***
