Courses in Atmospheric Sciences

A Atm 100 The Atmosphere (3)

Non-technical survey of the atmosphere; the physical environment of society and its historical development; intentional and unintentional modifications of the environment; cloud types and structure; severe storms; weather forecasting; air pollution; major wind and weather systems. Does not yield credit toward the major in atmospheric science. Two lectures, one-two-hour discussion each week. Fall semester only. [NS]

A Atm 101 The Upper Atmosphere (3)

Elementary survey of the properties and geophysical phenomena of the upper atmosphere; ionosphere, magnetosphere, and interplanetary space, ionospheric and magnetic storms; aurora and airglow; observational techniques including rockets and satellites. Does not yield credit toward the B.S. in atmospheric science. Two lectures, one two-hour discussion each week. May not be offered in 2005-2006. [NS]

A Atm 102 Science and Major Environmental Issues (3)

Study of the role of science in creating, defining, evaluating, and resolving major issues relating to energy production and its use and impact on the physical environments; case studies of such issues as change in climate, air pollution, the fluorocarbon/ozone link, etc. Three lectures each week. Does not yield credit toward the B.S. in atmospheric science. Spring semester only. [NS]

A Atm 107 The Oceans (3)

Introductory survey of the physical, chemical, geological, and biological processes in the marine environment; promise and problems of the oceans as a natural resource. Does not yield credit toward the B.S. in atmospheric science. Three lectures each week. Spring semester only. [NS]

A Atm 199 Contemporary Issues in Atmospheric Science (1)

Issues from the current literature in selected areas of atmospheric science. Particular areas of study to be announced each term. Intended for students interested in exploring in depth themes covered in large lecture courses. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. S/U graded. May not be offered in 2005-2006.

A Atm 210 Atmospheric Structure, Thermodynamics, and Circulation (4)

Technical survey of the atmosphere with application of elementary physical and mathematical concepts to the horizontal and vertical structure of the atmosphere; planetary, regional and local circulations; atmospheric radiation; precipitation physics and thermodynamics. Three lectures and one discussion/lab period per week. Prerequisites: A Mat 111 or 112 or 118; A Phy 108 or 150 or 151. Fall semester only.

A Atm 210Z Atmospheric Structure, Thermodynamics, and Circulation (4)

A Atm 210Z is writing intensive version of A Atm 210; only one may be taken for credit. Fall semester only. Three lectures and one discussion/lab period per week. [WI]

A Atm 211 Weather Analysis and Forecasting (4)

Physical principles and empirical methods of weather analysis and forecasting, with emphasis on synoptic, regional and local weather systems; introduction to use and interpretation of observed weather data, satellite imagery, temperature and precipitation processes, soundings and stability; use of computer forecast guidance models and products of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Prerequisite: A Atm 210 (or Atm 210Z) or permission of instructor. May not be taken S/U graded. Spring semester only.

A Atm 297 Independent Study I (1-3)

By advisement only and may be repeated once for credit. S/U graded. Fall and Spring semesters.

A Atm 300Z Solar Energy (3)

Discussion of solar energy technology, including solar energy measurement and distribution; direct use of the sun's energy; solar architecture; energy from wind, tides, waves, currents, and salinity gradients; biomass and geothermal energy; energy use, conservation, and other major environmental issues. Prerequisite(s): 6 credits in mathematics including one course in calculus; A Phy 108, or 150, or 151; junior or senior class standing. May not be offered in 2005-2006. [WI]

A Atm 304 Air Quality (3)

Designed for undergraduate students not pursuing the B.S. in Atmospheric Science. Topics include air pollution criteria standards and regulations, basic air pollution monitoring (including quality assurance), simple statistical analysis of data, and pollutant transport, transformation and deposition. Prerequisite(s): A Mat 111 or 112 or 118; A Phy 108 or 150 or 151. Offered alternate Spring semester. Next offered in Spring 2006.

A Atm 304Z Air Quality (3)

A Atm 304Z is writing intensive version of A Atm 304; only one may be taken for credit. Offered alternate spring semesters; will next be offered in Spring 2006. [WI]

A Atm 305 Global Physical Climatology (3)

The physical basis of climate and climate variability from a coupled atmosphere-ocean perspective. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the causes of regional climate differences and regional climate variability and the role that the global atmosphere and oceans play in the process Prerequisite(s): A Atm 210 (or 210Z). Offered alternate Fall semesters; will next be offered in fall 2005.

A Atm 307 (= A Chm 307) Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry (3)

Chemical principles and concepts leading to understanding the composition and change in the chemical/atmospheric environment; sources and links of chemical constituents; chemistry of the troposphere and stratosphere; measurement and theory of greenhouse gases; global pollution and ozone depletion. Prerequisite(s): A Mat 111 or 112 or 118; A Phy 108 or 150 or 151; A Chm 121. Offered alternate Spring semesters. Will next be offered Spring 2007.

A Atm 307Z (= A Chm 307) Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry (3)

A Atm 307Z is the writing intensive version of A Atm 307; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Mat 111 or 112 or 118; A Phy 108 or150, A Chm 120 or 130. Offered alternate Spring semester. Will next be offered Spring 2007. [WI]

A Atm 311 Severe and Hazardous Weather Analysis and Forecasting (4)

Continuation of Atm 211, with emphasis on severe and unusual weather analysis and forecasting, including thunderstorms, tornadoes, downbursts, derechoes, hail, flash floods, hurricanes, winter storms, blizzards, blocking weather patterns, floods and drought; introduction to weather analysis software and weather display systems; commercial meteorology. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 211. Fall semester only.

A Atm 320 Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3)

Equation of state; principles of thermodynamics; water vapor and moist air thermodynamics; changes of phase and latent heat; hydrostatic equilibrium; atmospheric convection; thermodynamic diagrams; atmospheric stability and severe weather events. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 210 (or 210Z); A Mat 214; A Phy 150 or 151; Co-requisite: ATM 333. Fall semester only.

A Atm 321 Physical Meteorology (4)

Atmospheric physics, including radiation, optics, and visibility; atmospheric electricity; cloud and aerosol physics; acoustics; upper atmospheric processes; radar meteorology. Three lectures and one lab discussion per week. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 320, 333; A Phy 240 or 241. Spring semester only. [OD]

A Atm 333 Quantitative Methods in Geophysics (3)

Important topics in atmospheric and geophysical science studied using various analytical and numerical techniques. Description and analysis of specific but disparate geophysical phenomena will expose the student of the commonality of application of certain classical and modern mathematical approaches used to expound the underlying physical principles. Prerequisite(s): A 210 (or 210Z); Mat 214; Phy 150 or 151; Mat 311 (recommended as a pre-requisite, acceptable as a co-requisite). Fall semester only.

A Atm 335 Meteorological Remote Sensing (3)

Satellite remote sensing from UV to microwave including the principles of atmospheric radiative transfer, descriptions of important satellite orbits and sensors, the retrieval of atmospheric variables from active and passive systems, and basic principles of interpretation. Prerequisite(s): A Mat 111 or 112 or 118 and A Atm 211. Will next be offered in Fall 2006.

A Atm 390 Commercial Meteorology (2)

Examination of the impact of weather and climate forecasting on social and economic factors in our society. Emphasis on severe weather prediction, warnings, and disaster preparedness. Guest lectures by private-sector professional meteorologists. Each student will participate as a member of a mock 'company' providing weather services to a real client in the community. One lecture each week. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 311 and permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2005-2006

A Atm 400 Synoptic Meteorology I (3)

Electronic meteorological database description and analysis procedures; use of meteorological software packages and remote sensing technologies in weather analysis and forecasting; operational numerical weather prediction model procedures; application of fundamental thermodynamic and dynamic principles to multiscale weather events; scientific issues in weather forecasting. Two joint lecture-laboratory periods each week. Corequisites: A Atm 311; 410. Fall semester only.

A Atm 401 Synoptic Meteorology II (3)

Application of more advanced thermodynamic and dynamic concepts, laws and remote sensing technologies to multiscale weather analysis and prediction; structure of global scale temperature, wind and precipitation regimes and their causes; use of operational weather prediction models and products for research and weather forecasting; severe weather and heavy precipitation analysis and forecasting. Two joint class/laboratory periods each week. Prerequisite: A Atm 400; corequisite(s): A Atm 411. Spring semester only.

A Atm 407 Hydrometeorology (3) (Formerly A Atm 408B)

The physical processes governing the continental hydrologic cycle such as water vapor transport, runoff, evapotranspiration, streamflow, sub-surface recharge; land/atmosphere interaction; spatial/ temporal variability of hydrologic parameters. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 211 or A Geo 260; will not yield upper level credit for the atmospheric science B.S. degree. Will next be offered in Fall 2005. Not open to students with credit in A Atm 408.

A Atm 408 Hydrometeorology (3)

The physical processes governing the continental hydrologic cycle such as water vapor transport, runoff, evapotranspiration, streamflow, sub-surface recharge; land/atmosphere interaction; spatial/ temporal variability of hydrologic parameters. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 320 and A Mat 311. Not open to students with credit in A Atm 407. Will next be offered in Spring 2006.

A Atm 409 Atmospheric Precipitation Processes (3)

Fundamentals of atmospheric precipitation processes; atmospheric moisture budget; convective and stratiform precipitation; application of satellite and radar imagery to precipitation analysis and forecasting; mesoscale convective systems; mesoscale precipitation structure in cyclones; flash flood forecasting; quantitative precipitation forecasting exercise. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 320; A Mat 311. Corequisite: A Atm 410. May not be offered in 2005-2006.

A Atm 410 Dynamic Meteorology I (3)

Forces and force balances in the atmosphere; thermal wind, vorticity and circulation; structure and dynamics of the middle latitudes and tropical cyclones. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 320, 321, 333. Fall semester only.

A Atm 411 Dynamic Meteorology II (3)

Derivation and scaling of the equations of atmospheric motion; major forces in the atmosphere; dynamics of frontal cyclones; mathematics of weather prediction. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 410. Spring semester only.

A Atm 414 Air Pollution (3)

Physical and chemical processes affecting air suspensoids; pollutant dispersion; effects of pollutants on materials, vegetation, and animal life; environmental gas cycles; applications to instruments and industrial removal processes. Corequisite(s): A Atm 410 or permission of instructor. Offered alternate Fall semesters; will next be offered in Fall 2005.

A Atm 421 Tropical Meteorology (3)

Tropical cyclone dynamics and thermodynamics; tropical cyclone formation; monsoons; tropical waves; El Niño. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 410 or equivalent. Spring semester only. May not be offered in Spring 2006.

A Atm 422 Meteorological Instrumentation and Measurement (2)

Principles of meteorological measurement; error and propagation of error; measurement of temperature, pressure, windfield, water vapor and solar radiation; basic photogrammetry; survey of measurement systems: Doppler radar, lidar, profilers and ASOS. One lecture and one demonstration/laboratory session per week. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 321; A Phy 240 or 241. May not be offered in 2005-2006.

A Atm 424 Fundamentals of Atmospheric Electricity (3)

An introduction to the basic electrical processes operating in the atmosphere; fair weather electricity and the global circuit; electrical properties of clouds and thunderstorms; thunderstorm electrification; the lightning flash; observation and measurement techniques. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 321; A Mat 214; A Phy 240 or 241. Spring semester only. May not be offered in 2005-2006.

A Atm 430 Solar Radiation and Applications (3)

Definition of solar and terrestrial radiation components; basic celestial geometry; introduction to the measurement of solar radiation; principles of solar radiation transfer through the Earth's atmosphere; study of the interrelationship between solar radiation components; applied solar radiation examples. Prerequisite(s): A Mat 113 or 119; A Phy 150 or 151. May not be offered in 2005-2006.

A Atm 450 Computer Applications in Atmospheric Science (3)

Computer programming and numerical methods for solving atmospheric science problems; data handling and storage; examination of currently used programs in atmospheric science research; iterative methods; numerical weather prediction. Prerequisite(s): A Atm 333; A Csi 204 or 205 or permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2005-2006.

A Atm 490 Internship in Atmospheric Science (1-3)

Research or operational experience in atmospheric-related activities with local governmental agencies or private industry. No more than 3 credits for A Atm 490 may be applied toward major requirements in atmospheric science. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing in atmospheric science. S/U graded, may be repeated for credit.

A Atm 497 Independent Study II (1-3)

May be repeated once for credit. No more than 6 credits from A Atm 490, 497, 498, and 499 may be applied toward major requirements in atmospheric science. Prerequisite(s): junior senior class standing, and by advisement only. Fall and spring semesters.

A Atm 498 Computer Applications in Meteorological Research (3)

Directed individual study of a particular problem in atmospheric science that requires use of the University Computing Center and/or departmental computers. May be repeated once for credit. No more than 6 credits from A Atm 490, 497, 498, and 499 may be applied toward major requirements in atmospheric science. Prerequisite(s): A Csi 201 or permission of instructor. S/U graded.

A Atm 499 Undergraduate Research (3)

Guided research leading to a senior thesis. Oral presentation of results required. May be repeated for credit. No more than 6 credits from A Atm 490, 497, 498, and 499 may be applied toward major requirements in atmospheric science. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing, and permission of department chair. S/U graded.