History
The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University was founded in 1961 by renowned tropical meteorologist Professor Herbert Riehl. The department originally was part of the Civil Engineering Department but became an officially recognized department in March of 1962. Currently the department operates under the Walter Scott, Jr. 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. 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 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.
In 1991, the Department of Atmospheric Science (ATS) was one of fifteen CSU departments recognized as a Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence (PRSE). This designation was the result of a newly established, competitive application process and was effective for a four year period. PRSE designation identifies the department as high priority for maintenance and enhancement resources. Selections were made by the university administration and were based upon a consistent record of superior accomplishments in research and graduate education. Key elements in the selection of ATS for this honor included 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. Designation of ATS as a PRSE was subsequently renewed in competitions in 1995, 1999, 2004, and 2008. In 2012 and 2016 ATS and CIRA were jointly designated as a PRSE.

Aerial view of CSU’s Foothills Campus circa 1997
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 2017, the department has 19 academic faculty members who guide the formal graduate instruction program and lead the aggressive, cutting-edge research activities. The department currently has 80 graduate students enrolled.
As of Summer 2016, the department has awarded 326 Ph.D. degrees and 705 M.S. degrees. Although the department does not offer B.S. degrees, several undergraduate-level courses are available.
Department Timeline


CSU President William Morgan visited Herbert Riehl





Initial faculty recruited


First graduate student: James L. Rasmussen


Naval Ordnance Test Station

Grant family


Christman Airfield

New Atmospheric Science building










Establishment of the Colorado Climate Center

CSU uses an F-101B to study severe storms



Establishment of the NOAA Cooperative Institute



Department ranked among top in the United States


NASA launches CSU-led Earth Radiation Budget Satellite

Development of Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS)



CHILL NSF National Radar Facility moved to CSU


Expansion of Atmospheric Chemistry program



Tom Vonder Harr named University Distinguished Professor




Atmospheric Science-CIRA Research Center (ACRC) building dedicated


Prof. Vonder Haar elected to the National Academy of Engineering

ATS 737 field trip to Ball Aerospace in Boulder

CIRA personnel visit Ball Aerospace

Atmospheric Chemistry building dedicated

Graeme Stephens named University Distinguished Professor

CloudSat launched






ATS West dedicated

Department ranked No. 1



50th Anniversary of the Department of Atmospheric Science
Dave Randall named University Distinguished Professor





Global Precipitation Mission

Orbiting Carbon Observatory launch

Sonia Kreidenweis named University Distinguished Professor

Rutledge receives NSF funding for SEA-POL

Pierce, Fischer receive grant for wildfire smoke research

White House kitchen garden joins CoCoRaHS



Professor Emeritus William Gray remembered

Ribbon-cutting for GOES-R antenna

ATS and CIRA named CSU Program of Research and Scholarly Excellence


Ravishankara named University Distinguished Professor

SEA-POL sets sail

Russ Schumacher selected as Colorado State Climatologist

Michael Bell earns Presidential Early Career Award



Fischer leads $3.8M WE-CAN wildfire smoke study

RELAMPAGO campaign studies severe weather in Argentina

ATS team wins forecasting competition

Ravishankara receives U.N. Scientific Leadership award

NOAA renews partnership with CIRA

Colorado Climate Center certifies state weather records

ATS researchers participate in collaborative campaigns in southeast Asia

Ravishankara elected Foreign Member of Royal Society


Department intensifies diversity efforts

ATS Main community space opens

Leadership affirms commitment to equity

Record-breaking hurricane season


Science Moms climate action campaign launches

Sue van den Heever to lead NASA’s $177 million INCUS mission

Steven Miller named new CIRA director

Sonia Kreidenweis, Paul DeMott co-lead $12.5 million NSF aerobiome project


Department honors Jeff Collett’s 11 years as department head

Eric Maloney becomes department's ninth leader

PRECIP campaign studies extreme rainfall

Sue van den Heever named University Distinguished Professor