Climate and Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics

Broadly speaking, our research is focused on large-scale climate dynamics. Specific areas of active research include: large-scale atmospheric and oceanic dynamics, ocean-atmosphere interaction, atmospheric convection, coupling between clouds and climate, boundary layer processes, tropical cyclones, general circulation modeling, coupling between polar regions and global climate, and the role of the stratosphere in the climate system. Our research projects focus on both understanding the internal variability of the climate system and also its response to anthropogenic forcing.

Faculty

• Elizabeth Barnes
• Michael Bell
• James Hurrell
• Eric Maloney
• David Randall
• Maria Rugenstein
• David Thompson

Sample Coursework During First Two Years of Graduate Program

Fall, Year 1

ATS 601: Atmospheric Dynamics I
ATS 620: Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics
ATS 621: Atmospheric Chemistry
ATS 640: Synoptic Meteorology

Spring, Year 1

*ATS 602: Atmospheric Dynamics II
ATS 606: Introduction to Climate
ATS 622: Atmospheric Radiation
*ATS 655: Objective Analysis
ATS 693: Responsible Research in Atmospheric Science

Fall, Year 2

*ATS 608: Introduction to Climate Variability

Spring, Year 2

*ATS 623: Atmospheric Boundary Layer

* Elective

Other classes of interest

ATS 604: Atmospheric Modeling
ATS 605: Atmospheric Circulations
ATS 607: Computational Methods for Atmospheric Science
ATS 623: Atmospheric Boundary Layer
ATS 641: Mesoscale Meteorology
ATS 722: Atmospheric Radiation and Energetics
ATS 742: Tropical Meteorology
ATS 743: Interactions of the Ocean and Atmosphere
ATS 745: Atmospheric General Circulation Modeling
ATS 753: Global Hydrologic Cycle
ATS 760: Global Carbon Cycle
ATS 761: Land-Atmosphere Interactions