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 | Spring |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 | Spring odd years |
| 580 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science: Geoengineering the Climate | Varies | Varies | The following courses have been offered:
ATS 580A4: Geoengineering the Climate (Spring 2019) |
Spring |
| 581 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | The following courses have been offered:
ATS 581A1: Science, Policy and Management of Environmental Issues (Fall 2015) ATS 581A2: Chemical Kinetics and Photochemistry of the Atmosphere (Fall 2019) |
Fall |
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 | ATS 601 | Sound waves, gravity waves, Rossby waves; numerical weather prediction; baroclinic instability; general circulation; tropical dynamics | 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 | 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 | 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 | Fall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 680 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | Courses that have been offered:
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) |
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 | Spring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 721 | Advanced 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 | 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 | 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 602 | Analysis of physical and dynamical processes that initiate, maintain, and modulate atmospheric mesoscale phenomena | 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 | Spring even years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 740 | Atmospheric Electricity | 2 (2 0 0) | ATS 720 | 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 | 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 | Spring odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 745 | An Introduction to Global Atmospheric 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 | 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 biosphereic 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. | Fall odd years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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) |
Fall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 781 | Experimental Graduate Courses in Atmospheric Science | Varies | Varies | ATS 781A1 Aircraft Observations (Fall 2018)
ATS 781A2 Hydrometeorology (Spring 2019) |
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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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