History

The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University was founded in 1961 by the renowned tropical meteorologist Professor Herbert Riehl. The department was originally assembled as a part of the Civil Engineering Department, but became an officially recognized department in March of 1962. Currently, the department operates under the College of Engineering.

The department had grown to eight faculty members by 1967 when it moved to a new building in the Foothills Campus on the western edge of Fort Collins. Since that time, the department has continued to grow and flourish with expanded facilities at the Foothills Campus. These facilities include the main building which provides office and classroom space for 200 faculty, students, and staff, the ATS-CIRA Research Center (ACRC) which houses ATS/CIRA personnel and classroom/lab space, the Colorado Climate Center, the Atmospheric Simulation and Chemistry Laboratory, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), a branch library with online catalog and index access, a weather analysis laboratory which supports mesoscale and synoptic scale analyses, a satellite receiving and analysis laboratory, and the CSU-CHILL Radar Facility.

Computing capabilities include both data analysis and modeling systems that operate mainly on clusters located within the department. The department develops and operates several models including Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) and the General Circulation Model. Many smaller models are available to both researchers and graduate students.

The department currently has thirteen academic faculty members who guide the formal graduate instruction program and lead the aggressive, cutting-edge research activities. As of Spring 2007, the department has approximately 95 graduate students.

In 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2004, the Department of Atmospheric Science was one of fifteen CSU departments recognized as a Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence. This designation is effective for a four year period and identifies the department as high priority for maintenance and enhancement resources. Selections are made by the university administration and based upon a consistent record of superior accomplishments in research and graduate education. Key elements in the selection include uniqueness among other atmospheric science departments in the country with regard to funding over the last decade, professional achievements and awards received by faculty and graduates, and major publications.

The department's faculty members are currently engaged in interdisciplinary research across a broad spectrum of the atmospheric sciences. Sponsors of these research projects include the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Naval Research, State of Colorado, Department of Interior, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency.

As of Spring 2007, the department has awarded 241 Ph.D. degrees and 585 M.S. degrees. Although the department does not offer B.S. degrees, several undergraduate-level courses are available.