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 |
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| 150 | Physical Basis of Climate Change | 3 (3 0 0) | None | Energy budget of the earth, the greenhouse effect, carbon cycle, paleoclimate, projections of 21st century climate | Offered spring |
| 350 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 2 (2 0 0) | None | Behavior of the atmosphere and its influence upon man's activities | Offered 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 | Offered fall |
| 495 | Independent Study | Varies | Varies | General Atmospheric Science | |
| 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 | Offered fall even years |
| 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 | |
| 581 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | 2 (2 0 0) | Chem 474 or ATA 350 | Science, policy and Management of Environmental Issues: Through lecture, discussion, and guest speakers, current environmental issues will be discussed with their science and current government policy | Offered fall 2015 |
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 | Offered fall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 602 | Atmospheric Dynamics II | 2 | ATS 601 | Sound waves, gravity waves, Rossby waves; numerical weather prediction; baroclinic instability; general circulation; tropical dynamics | Offered spring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 604 | Atmospheric Modeling | 3 | ATS 601 | Design of numerical models of the atmosphere and applications to current problems; emphasis is on a practical understanding of relevant numerical methods | Offered fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 605 | Atmospheric Circulations | 3 | ATS 602 or concurrent registration | Observations and theory of the general circulation of the atmosphere, with emphasis on understanding physical mechanisms | Offered fall 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered fall 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 | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered fall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | Offered fall odd 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 | Offered spring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 680 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | The following courses have been offered: Geophysical Fluid Laboratory (Fall 2011) Computation Methods for Atmospheric Science (Spring 2013) Applied Numerical Weather Prediction (Fall 2013) Land-Atmosphere Interactions (Fall 2014) The Global Nitrogen Cycle (Fall 2015) |
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| 681 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | The following courses have been offered: Land-Atmosphere Interaction (Fall 2009) Satellite Observations (Spring 2010) Geophysical Fluid Laboratory (Fall 2011) Computation Methods for Atmospheric Science (Spring 2013) Applied Numerical Weather Prediction (Fall 2013) |
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| 693 | Responsible Research in Atmospheric Science | 1 (1 0 0) | Scientific misconduct; ethical publishing; record keeping; data management; professional skills applicable to atmospheric science | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 707 | Atmospheric Waves and Vortices | 3 (2 0 1) | ATS 605 | Atmospheric wave motions on a multitude of spatial and temporal scales. Topics covered include mountain waves, downslope windstorms, breaking waves and hydraulic jumps, vorticity generation via hydraulic jumps, equatorial waves, LaPlace's tidal equation, atmospheric tides, Eliassen-Palm theorems, wave-mean-flow interaction, QBO, gravity wave critical levels, Kelvin-Helmholtz instablity, stratified shear turbulence, gravity wave breaking, solitary waves and KdV theory, gravity wave and Rossby wave critical layers | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered fall even 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 | Offered spring odd 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 | Offered 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 | Offered spring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 721 | Theoretical Topics in Radiative Transfer | 3 (3 0 0) | ATS 622 | Physics of atmospheric radiation; theoretical techniques used to show radiation transfer equation | Offered fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 722 | Atmospheric Radiation and Energetics | 3 (2 0 1) | ATS 622 | Radiative transfer in the atmosphere; implications on remote sensing and energetics | Offered spring odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 724 | Cloud Microphysics | 2 (2 0 0) | ATS 621 | Theories and observations of nucleation; cloud droplet spectra broadening; precipitation growth and breakup; ice multiplication; cloud electrification | Offered 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 | Offered fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 735 | Mesoscale Dynamics | 3 (3 0 0) | ATS 602 | Analysis of physical and dynamical processes that initiate, maintain, and modulate atmospheric mesoscale phenomena | Offered fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 737 | Satellite Observation of 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 | Offered spring even 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 | Offered spring odd 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 | Offered spring even years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 743 | Interaction 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 | Offered spring odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 745 | Atmospheric General Circulation Modeling | 3 (3 0 0) | ATS 602, ATS 605 | Theories of the atmospheric general circulation. Numerical modeling findings. Index cycles, blocking action, transient vs. standing wave activity | Offered spring 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 | Offered 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 | Offered 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 | Offered spring even years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 755 | Theoretical and Applied Climatology | 3 (3 0 0) | ATS 606 | Current topics in climate research | Offered 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 | Offered spring odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 761 | Land-Atmosphere Interactions | 2 (2 0 ) | ATS 606 | Exchange of energy, water, momentum, and carbon between the land surface and the atmosphere | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 biosphereic processes and feedbacks | Offered 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. | Offered fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 780 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | The following courses have been offered: Cloud Microphysical Analysis and Modeling Meteorological Applications of GPS Atmospheric Electricity Atmospheric Response to Climate Change |
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| 781 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | The following courses have been offered: Cloud Microphysical Analysis and Modeling Meteorological Applications of GPS Atmospheric Electricity |
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| 784 | Supervised College Teaching | Varies | Prior consent of instructor, advisor, and department head | College Teaching | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 786 | Practicum | Varies | Practicum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 795 | Independent Study | Varies | General Atmospheric Science | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 796 | Group Study | Varies | General Atmospheric Science | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 799 | A-V Dissertation | Varies |
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