Program Courses

A weekly discussion of recent literature in the atmospheric sciences. Often coordinated with atmosphere-related seminars in the Remote Sensing seminar series.

• Credits: 1.0; May be repeated
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-1-0)
• Semesters Offered: Fall, in even years
• Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
• Pre-Requisite(s): ATM 5515(C) or ATM 5640(C) or ATM 5680(C) or ENVE 5515 or PH 5640 or PH 5680 or CEE 5515

Study of the photochemical processes governing the composition of the troposphere and stratosphere, with application to air pollution and climate change. Covers radical chain reaction cycles, heterogeneous chemistry, atmospheric radiative transfer and measurement techniques for atmospheric gases.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
• Semesters Offered: Spring
• Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
• Pre-Requisite(s): CH 3510 or CH 3520 or ENVE 4504 or CEE 4504

Essential elements of atmospheric physics, including thermodynamics, aerosol and cloud physics, radiative transfer, and atmospheric fluid dynamics.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
• Semesters Offered: Fall
• Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
• Pre-Requisite(s): MA 3530 and PH 2300

Advanced study of topics in the atmospheric sciences. The subject matter may vary from term to term depending on the needs and interests of students.

• Credits: variable to 3.0; Repeatable to a Max of 9
• Semesters Offered: On Demand
• Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

Study of how forcing phenomena affect transport of water and chemicals in the atmospheric boundary layer and how this transport is measured in the field, including relevant aspects of fluid dynamics, boundary layer structure, surface energy balance, and flux measurement.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
• Semesters Offered: Fall, in even years
• Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

Study of the relationship between atmospheric composition, global change, and the circulation of major elements through the Earth system. Responses of ecosystem emissions to changes in landuse, biodiversity, nutrient supply, plant stressors, and climate change are discussed.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
• Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
• Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
• Pre-Requisite(s): CH 1150

Fundamentals forces and conservation laws that govern fluid flow; applications to the atmosphere and ocean, including balanced flow (pressure gradient and Coriolis Force), vorticity dynamics, turbulence, waves, and boundary layers.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
• Semesters Offered: Spring, in even years
• Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
• Pre-Requisite(s): MA 3530 and PH 2300

This course focuses on the basic physics behind above- surface remote sensing and remote sensing systems. Topics covered include: properties of the atmosphere, absorption and scattering of electromagnetic radiation, instrument design, data acquisition and processing, validation, and basic applications.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0)
• Semesters Offered: Spring
• Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore
• Pre-Requisite(s): PH 2200 and MA 2160

Partial differential equations of physics, separation of variables, boundary value problems, Sturm-Liouville theory, Legendre and Bessel functions, inhomogeneous partial differential equations, Green's functions. Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms, complex variables, evaluation of integrals by contour integration, linear algebra, matrix methods with emphasis on numerical applications.

• Credits: 3.0
• Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
• Semesters Offered: Fall
• Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate