Current Class Information
- Spring 2025 Class Schedule
- Fall 2024 Final Exam Schedule
- Spring 2024 Class Schedule
- 2023-24 Course Offerings
Department Course Catalog
Course Numbering System
- 100 - 499 Primarily for undergraduate students
- 500 - 699 Primarily for graduate students
- 700 - 799 Graduate students only
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 |
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Graduate Level (Ph.D.)
| Course | Title | Credits | Requisites | Description | Offered | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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) |
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| 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 |
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