Skip Navigation

Spring 2024 Class Information

Department Course Catalog

Course Numbering System

Credits (example): 4 (2 2 1) The first figure indicates total credits for this course, the second figure lecture hours per week, the third figure laboratory hours per week, and the fourth figure discussion/recitation hours per week.

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor is implied whether so stated or not. Prerequisites may be met by presenting evidence of credits earned in equivalent courses or by demonstrating knowledge equivalent to indicated prerequisites.

If the syllabus is available you can access it by clicking on the course's title.

Undergraduate Level

Course Title Credits Requisites Description Offered
150 Global Climate Change 3 (3 0 0) None Energy budget of the earth, the greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, paleoclimate, projections of 21st century climate
350 Introduction to Weather and Climate 2 (2 0 0) None Behavior of the atmosphere and its influence upon man's activities Fall
351 Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 (0 3 0) ATS 350 or concurrent registration Actual weather data, visualization of meteorological phenomena, in-depth discussion of current environmental issues Fall
440 Sea Level Rise and a Sustainable Future 3 (3 0 0) None ATS/GES 440: Overview of sea level rise (SLR), with lectures on basic geophysics of SLR, the projected future impacts from climate models, and uncertainty around these projections. Impacts of SLR are discussed in a historical, present, and future context, focusing on social, cultural, economic, and political dimensions. Spring
495 Independent Study Varies Varies General Atmospheric Science
542 Paleoclimate 3 (3 0 0) CHEM 113, GEOL 154 ATS/GEOL 542: A survey of past climate and Earth system states, from the Archean to the Holocene. Special emphasis on extreme climates (pre-oxygenated atmosphere, Snowball Earth, and super greenhouse climates) and on time periods where there remains substantial model- data disagreement (early Eocene, Heinrich events). Role of paleoclimate in understanding future warming and evolution of the Earth system. Detailed look at paleoclimate proxies and their limitations. Spring
543 Global Climate Change 2 (2 0 0) BZ 300 to 499 or CHEM 300 to 499 or ECOL 300 to 499 or LIFE 300 to 499 Climate change science, climate change impacts and climate change mitigation, including discussions of current topics in climate change
550 Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing 3 (3 0 0) PH 142, MATH 261 Introduction to the role of remote sensing measurements in observing and monitoring land and ocean, atmospheric temperature, humidity, trace gases, aerosols, clouds, and precipitation. Fall
555 Air Pollution 3 (3 0 0) CHEM 113, MATH 261 or MATH 340, PH 122 or PH 142 Nature, ambient concentrations, sources, sinks, and physiological activity of pollutants; meteorology; legislation; social and economic factors Fall even years
556 Climate Intervention to Cool a Warming Planet 2 (2 0 0) None Deliberate, large-scale intervention in the climate system designed to counter global warming or offset some of its effects could well be in our collective future, especially as the impacts of climate change become more severe and climate intervention technologies are within reach.
560 Air Pollution Measurement 2 (1 3 0) CHEM 114 Examination and application of techniques for air pollution measurement, includes sampling and analysis of gases, aerosols, and precipitation Spring
580 Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science Varies Varies The following course is currently offered:
ATS 580A5: Climate Change Scenarios in Practice (Fall 2023)
Varies
581 Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science Varies Varies The following courses have been offered:
ATS 581A1: Science, Policy and Management of Environmental Issues (Spring 2021)
ATS 581A2: Chemical Kinetics and Photochemistry of the Atmosphere (Spring 2023)

Graduate Level

Course Title Credits Requisites Description Offered
601 Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 (2 0 0) MATH 261, MATH 530 Momentum, continuity equations; circulation, vorticity, thermodynamics; boundary layer; synoptic scale motions in midlatitudes Fall
602 Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 (2 0 0) ATS 601 Sound waves, gravity waves, Rossby waves; numerical weather prediction; baroclinic instability; general circulation; tropical dynamics Spring
604 Atmospheric Modeling 3 (3 0 0) ATS 601 Design of numerical models of the atmosphere and applications to current problems; emphasis is on a practical understanding of relevant numerical methods Fall odd years
605 An Introduction to the Global Circulation of the Atmosphere 3 (3 0 0) ATS 602 or concurrent registration Observations and theory of the general circulation of the atmosphere, with emphasis on understanding physical mechanisms Spring odd years
606 Introduction to Climate 2 (2 0 0) MATH 261 and MATH 530 Exchanges of energy, water, and momentum through the atmosphere, surface, vegetation, and oceans. Climate variability, feedback processes, paleoclimates, and climate change Spring
607 Computational Methods for Atmospheric Science 3 (2 1 0) ATS 601 or concurrent registration Covers computer programming tools unique to and common in the atmospheric sciences Spring
610 Physical Oceanography 3 (3 0 0) None Foundations of ocean circulation theory and the general circulation of the oceans using observational data and rotating tank experiments Spring
620 Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics 2 (2 0 0) MATH 340, PH 142 Equilibrium thermodynamics, cloud microphysics, cloud dynamics, precipitation formation, and cloud electrification Fall
621 Atmospheric Chemistry 2 (2 0 0) CHEM 114, MATH 340, PH 142 Overview of chemical kinetics and equilibria; sources and sinks of pollutants; photochemistry and smog formation; aqueous-phase chemistry; acid rain Fall
622 Atmospheric Radiation 2 (2 0 0) ATS 620, ATS 602 or concurrent registration Terrestrial, solar radiation propagation in the atmosphere; radiative components in energy budgets, weather systems, climate studies; remote sensing Spring
623 Atmospheric Boundary Layer 2 (2 0 0) ATS 601 or concurrent registration Equations for shallow atmospheric motions; thermal instability of a fluid layer; atmospheric turbulence; flow stability; 1-D mixed layer models Spring even years
631 Introduction to Atmospheric Aerosols 2 (1 3 0) None Physical, chemical, and microphysical characteristics of atmospheric particulate matter; measurement principles and techniques Spring
632 Interpreting Satellite Observations 2 (1 3 0) ATS 621; ATS 622 Broad theoretical and practical overview of satellite observations of atmospheric composition. Introduction to the theoretical foundations of satellite composition retrievals of both gases and aerosols, and the associated strengths and weaknesses of commonly used atmospheric products Spring
640 Synoptic Meteorology 2 (1 2 0) ATS 601 or concurrent registration Synoptic-scale weather systems; moist and dry atmospheric variables; static stability; vertical motion; fronts; cyclones and anticyclones Fall
641 Mesoscale Meteorology 2 (1 2 0) ATS 640 Mesoscale weather systems; mesoanalysis techniques; upper- and low-level jets; instabilities; dynamics of convective storms; organized convection Spring
650 Measurement Systems and Theory 2 (2 0 0) PH 142, STAT 301 Surface and upper air measurement systems; theory and system response, sensor design; automated data collection, analysis and display systems Fall
651 Data Assimilation 3 (3 0 0) MATH 530; MATH 340; STAT 301 Methods for combining theoretical understanding encoded in complex weather and climate models with real-world observations. Applications include weather prediction and other problems in the geosciences. Spring odd years
652 Atmospheric Remote Sensing 2 (2 0 0) ATS 622 Concepts of electromagnetic and acoustic wave propagation; active and passive remote sensing techniques including radar, lidar, thermal emission systems Fall even years
655 Objective Analysis in the Atmospheric Sciences 3 (3 0 0) MATH 531 Objective analysis of geophysical data: general statistics; matrix methods; time series analysis, with emphasis on applications to real world data Spring
660 Social Responsibility in Atmospheric Science 2 (2 0 0) This course will provide the structure and resources to help prepare students to address issues of participation, representation, equity, and inclusion challenges that are unique to the field of atmospheric science. Students will engage with a diversity of scholarship to develop a robust understanding of foundational concepts and practices for personal and social change and to incorporate and disseminate these concepts through their science.
680 Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science Varies Varies Courses that have been offered:
ATS 680A3 Social Responsibility in Atmospheric Science (Fall 2022)
ATS 680A6 Applied Numerical Weather and Prediction (Fall 2013)
ATS 680A7 The Global Nitrogen Cycle (Fall 2015)
Fall
681 Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science Varies Varies Courses that have been offered:
ATS 681A3 Introduction to Climate Variability
ATS 681A4 Mountain Meteorology (Spring 2018)
ATS 681A5 Upper-Air Soundings in Atmospheric Research (Spring 2018)
ATS 681A6 Introduction to Causal Discovery (Fall 2021)
Spring
693 Responsible Research in Atmospheric Science 1 (1 0 0) Scientific misconduct; ethical publishing; record keeping; data management; professional skills applicable to atmospheric science Spring
695 Independent Study Varies General Atmospheric Science
699 A-V Thesis Varies
ATS 699A Global Climate Change M. Rugenstein
ATS 699B Land-Atmosphere Interactions S. Denning
ATS 699C Tropical Meteorology M. Bell
ATS 699D Weather Systems R. Schumacher
ATS 699E Remote Sensing C. Kummerow
ATS 699F Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions E. Maloney
ATS 699G General Circulation D. Randall
ATS 699I Atmospheric Chemistry S. Kreidenweis
ATS 699J Aerosol and Cloud Microphysics J. Pierce
ATS 699L Data Assimilation P.J. van Leeuwen
ATS 699M Mesoscale Meteorology K. Rasmussen
ATS 699O Mesoscale Modeling S. van den Heever
ATS 699P Radiation Theory C. Chiu
ATS 699Q Radar Meteorology S. Rutledge
ATS 699R Aerosol & Cloud Chemistry J. Collett
ATS 699S Climate Dynamics D. Thompson
ATS 699T Climate Analysis J. Hurrell
ATS 699U Tropospheric Chemistry E. Fischer
ATS 699V Atmospheric Variability E. Barnes

Graduate Level (Ph.D.)

Course Title Credits Requisites Description Offered
703 Numerical Weather Prediction 2 (2 0 0) ATS 602 Quasi-geostrophic approximation; barotropic, baroclinic, primitive equation, and general circulation models; numerical methods Fall even years
704 Large-scale Atmospheric Dynamics 2 (2 0 0) ATS 602 Quasi-static, quasi-geostrophic equations; planetary waves; geostrophic adjustment; barotropic, baroclinic instability; frontogenesis; tropical cyclones Fall odd years
708 Middle Atmospheric Dynamics 3 (3 0 0) ATS 602 Dynamics of the stratosphere and mesosphere with emphasis on the lower and middle stratosphere Spring
710 Geophysical Vortices 3 (3 0 0) ATS 602 Dynamical and thermodynamical structure of geophysical vortices from observational, experimental, and theoretical viewpoints. Topics covered include two-dimensional vortex dynamics, invertibility principle, Green functions, point vortex and moment idealizations, vortex axisymmetrization, vortex merger, two-dimensional and three-dimensional quasi-geostrophic turbulence, vortex Rossby waves, Eliassen's balanced vortex model, Ooyama's 1969 hurricane model, Spin down at small and large Rossby number, assymmetric balance (AB) theory, vortex alignment, tropical cyclogenesis and intensification via convectively forced vortex Rossby waves, tornadoes, water spout and dust devils Fall odd years
712 Dynamics of Clouds 3 (3 0 0) ATS 623 General theory of cloud dynamics; parameterization of microphysics and radiation; models of fog, stratocumuli, cumulonimbi, and orographic clouds Fall even years
715 Atmospheric Oxidation Processes 2 (2 0 0) ATS 621 Atmospheric hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide reactions; aqueous phase scavenging and reactions; chemical pathways in the atmosphere Fall odd years
716 Air Quality Characterization 2 (1 2 0) ATS 560 and either ATS 555 or ATS 621 Students plan, execute, and report on a measurement campaign to characterize local air quality Varies
721 Theoretical Topics in Radiative Transfer 3 (3 0 0) ATS 622 Physics of atmospheric radiation; theoretical techniques used to show radiation transfer equation Fall
722 Atmospheric Radiation and Energetics 3 (2 0 1) ATS 622 Radiative transfer in the atmosphere; implications on remote sensing and energetics Fall odd years
724 Cloud Microphysics 2 (2 0 0) ATS 620 Theories and observations of nucleation; cloud droplet spectra broadening; precipitation growth and breakup; ice multiplication; cloud electrification Spring odd years
730 Mesoscale Modeling 3 (3 0 0) ATS 602, ATS 632 Development of basic equations used in mesoscale models and methodology of solution Spring even years
735 Mesoscale Dynamics 3 (3 0 0) ATS 641 Analysis of physical and dynamical processes that initiate, maintain, and modulate atmospheric mesoscale phenomena Fall odd years
737 Satellite Observations of the Atmosphere and Earth 3 (3 0 0) ATS 622, ATS 652 Satellite measurements; basic orbits and observing systems; applications of remote probing and imaging to investigations of atmospheric processes Spring even years
740 Atmospheric Electricity 2 (2 0 0) ATS 620 Foundations of atmospheric electricity, including global electric circuit and the role of thunderstorms in maintaining this circuit, thunderstorm electrification processes based on non-inductive charging theory, lightning detection based on RF and optical sensing, and lightning phenomena including Transient Luminous Events Spring odd years
741 Radar Meteorology 3 (3 0 0) ATS 652 Radar systems; radar equation and applications; multiple Doppler observation and processing; radar studies of mesoscale systems Spring even years
742 Tropical Meteorology 2 (2 0 0) ATS 601, ATS 602, ATS 606 Overview of the tropical atmosphere, monsoons, intraseasonal variability, hurricanes, theory of tropical convection and the large-scale circulation Spring odd years
743 Interactions of the Ocean and Atmosphere 3 (3 0 0) ATS 601 and ATS 602 Ocean-atmosphere interactions in observations, theory, and models. Time mean atmosphere-ocean circulations through climate variability and change Spring odd years
745 Earth System Modeling 3 (3 0 0) ATS 602, ATS 605 An introduction to numerical modeling of the global circulation of the atmosphere, with an emphasis on the parameterization of physical processes Fall even years
750 Climate Dynamics: Atmospheric Variability 3 (3 0 0) ATS 605, ATS 655 Analysis and interpretation of large-scale variability and observed climate change Fall even years
752 Inverse Methods in Atmospheric Science 2 (2 0 0) PhD standing in ATS or written permission of instructor Provides an introduction to inverse modeling, with application to remote sensing retrievals, flux inversions, and data assimilation Fall even years
753 Global Hydrologic Cycle 3 (3 0 0) ATS 601, ATS 622 or ATS 652 Hydrologic cycle; moisture transport and air-ground exchange; water budgets of meteorological phenomena; climatology of atmospheric water
755 Theoretical and Applied Climatology 3 (3 0 0) ATS 606 Current topics in climate research Fall even years
760 Global Carbon Cycle 2 (2 0 0) ATS 606 Exchanges of CO2 between the atmosphere, the land surface, and oceans; biogeochemical processes; micrometeorological and inverse flux estimation Fall odd years
761 Land-Atmosphere Interaction 2 (2 0 ) ATS 606 Exchange of energy, water, momentum, and carbon between the land surface and the atmosphere Fall
762 Biosphere-Chemistry-Climate Interactions 2 (2 0 0) ATS 621 Explore the sensitivity of the climate system to atmospheric chemical composition with emphasis on connections to biospheric processes and feedbacks Spring odd years
772 Aerosol Physics, Chemistry, Clouds & Climate 3 (3 0 0) CHEM 114, MATH 161, PH 122 or PH 142 This course provides a detailed overview of the physics and chemistry of atmospheric aerosols including composition, size, and interaction with radiation and clouds. We develop research-grade models of aerosols, clouds, and radiation. Varies
780 Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science Varies Varies The following courses have been offered:
ATS 780A2 Meteorological Applications of GPS (Fall 2013)
ATS 780A4 Atmosphere's Response to Climate Change (Fall 2014)
ATS 780A5 Seminal Papers in Atmospheric and Climate Science (Fall 2015)
ATS 780A6 African Storms (Spring 2021)
ATS 780A7 Machine Learning for the Atmospheric Sciences (Spring 2022 and Fall 2023)
Varies
781 Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science Varies Varies The following courses have been offered:
ATS 781A1 Aircraft Observations (Fall 2018)
ATS 781A2 Hydrometeorology (Spring 2019)
ATS 781A3 Dynamical Systems and Statistical Mechanics Applied to Atmosphere and Ocean (Fall 2022)
ATS 781A4 Forcing, Feedbacks, and Climate Sensitivity (Spring 2024)
784 Supervised College Teaching Varies Prior consent of instructor, advisor, and department head College Teaching
786 Topics in Cloud Processes Varies This class is focused on cloud microphysical and dynamical processes. We will discuss the historical evolution of the field, the status of our current understanding of these processes, and the big unknowns underpinning future research. A range of cloud processes will be covered including updraft and downdraft dynamics, cold pools, warm and ice phase processes, precipitation, and aerosol-cloud interactions.
795 Independent Study Varies General Atmospheric Science
796 Group Study Varies General Atmospheric Science
799 A-V Dissertation Varies
ATS 799A Global Climate Change M. Rugenstein
ATS 799B Land-Atmosphere Interactions S. Denning
ATS 799C Tropical Meteorology M. Bell
ATS 799D Weather Systems R. Schumacher
ATS 799E Remote Sensing C. Kummerow
ATS 799F Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions E. Maloney
ATS 799G General Circulation D. Randall
ATS 799I Atmospheric Chemistry S. Kreidenweis
ATS 799J Aerosol and Cloud Microphysics J. Pierce
ATS 799L Data Assimilation P.J. van Leeuwen
ATS 799M Mesoscale Meteorology K. Rasmussen
ATS 799O Mesoscale Modeling S. van den Heever
ATS 799P Radiation Theory C. Chiu
ATS 799Q Radar Meteorology S. Rutledge
ATS 799R Aerosol & Cloud Chemistry J. Collett
ATS 799S Climate Dynamics D. Thompson
ATS 799T Climate Analysis J. Hurrell
ATS 799U Tropospheric Chemistry E. Fischer
ATS 799V Atmospheric Variability E. Barnes