Courses in Atmospheric Science

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 B.S. in atmospheric science. Three lectures per week. Offered Spring semester only.

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. Three lectures per week. Offered Fall semester only.

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 per week. Does not yield credit toward the B.S. in atmospheric science. Offered Spring semester only.

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. Offered Fall semester only.

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 2011-2012.

A ATM 200 Natural Disasters (3)
Disasters due to natural phenomena such as climate change, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic eruptions, asteroid/comet impacts, and mass extinctions are examined from an environmental perspective; each type of event will be characterized in terms of its origin, evolution, warning potential, range of significant environmental impacts and possible mitigation strategies; historical case studies will be analyzed; additional student selected topics may include ice storms, blizzards, landslides, avalanches, floods, drought, fire, heat and cold waves. Does not yield credit toward the B.S. in atmospheric science. Prerequisite(s): A ATM 100 or 107 or A ENV/A GEO 105. Three lectures per week. Offered Fall semester only.

A ATM 209 Weather Workshop (1)
Applications in weather analysis, including meteorological data decoding (METAR and RAOB), thermodynamic diagrams, cloud types, precipitation and visibility obscurations, and an introduction to meteorological instrumentation. Corequisite(s): A ATM 210. Offered Fall semester only.

A ATM 210/210Z Atmospheric Structure, Thermodynamics, and Circulation (3)
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; weather systems; atmospheric radiation; precipitation physics and thermodynamics. Three lectures per week. Only one version of A ATM 210 may be taken for credit. Prerequisites: A MAT 111 or 112 or 118 or T MAT 118; A PHY 105 or 140 or 141 or T PHY 141. Offered Fall semester only.

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(s): A ATM 209, 210, or permission of instructor. S/U grading prohibited. Offered Spring semester only.

A ATM 297 Independent Study I (1-3)
By advisement only and may be repeated once for credit. S/U graded. Offered Fall or 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 or T PHY 151; junior or senior standing. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

A ATM 301 Surface Hydrology and Hydrometeorology (3)
A survey of the water cycle and its interactions with the earth and atmosphere, including the processes of precipitation, evaporation, and stream flow. Water resources and policy issues incorporated where applicable. Will not yield upper level credit for the atmospheric science B.S. degree. Not open to students with credit in A ATM 408. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

A ATM 304/304Z 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. Only one version of A ATM 304 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 111 or 112 or 118 or T MAT 118; A PHY 105 or 140 or 141 or T PHY 141. Offered alternate Spring semesters; will next be offered in Spring 2012.

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 211. Corequisite(s): A ATM 315. Offered alternate Fall semesters; will next be offered in Fall 2011.

A ATM 306 Climate Variability and Change (3)
This course will be organized in two parts. Part I will cover seasonal to multi-decadal natural variability of the global climate system; the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO); monsoons, droughts and their causes; variability of high impact weather such as hurricanes; the fundamental physics of the coupled atmosphere-land-ocean system and our ability to predict it. Part II will cover anthropogenic climate change, including an objective assessment of observed trends in the past century and the anthropogenic contribution; theory of climate change linked to increased greenhouse gases; climate change predictions and the IPCC process. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 113 or 119 or T MAT 119; A ATM 210. Offered alternate Fall semesters; will next be offered in Fall 2012.

A ATM 307/307Z (= A CHM 307/307Z) 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. Only one version of A ATM 307 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 111 or 112 or 118 or T MAT 118; A PHY 105 or 140 or 141 or T PHY 141; A CHM 121 or 131 or T CHM 131. Offered alternate Spring semesters; will next be offered in Spring 2013.

A ATM 311 Severe and Hazardous Weather Analysis and Forecasting (4)
Continuation of ATM 211, with emphasis on severe and hazardous 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. Offered Fall semester only.

A ATM 315 Quantitative Methods in Geophysics (3)
Important topics in atmospheric and geophysical science are studied using various analytical and numerical techniques. Description and analysis of specific but disparate geophysical phenomena will expose the student the frequent application of certain mathematical and statistical approaches used to expound the underlying physical principles. Prerequisite(s): A ATM 210; A MAT 214, 311; (the latter recommended as a prerequisite; acceptable as corequisite); A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151. Offered 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): ATM 315; A PHY 240. Corequisite(s): A ATM 321. Offered Spring semester only.

A ATM 321Y 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 315; A PHY 240. Corequisite(s): A ATM 320. Offered Spring semester only.

A ATM 327 (= A ENV 327) Meteorological and Environmental Measurement (3)
Basic exposition of principles involved in the measurement of primary meteorological and environmental parameters. Topics to be covered include measurement uncertainty and the propagation of errors. Instruments for measuring temperature, pressure, humidity, wind field, solar and terrestrial radiation, precipitation, atmospheric aerosols, soil moisture, water quality, and data logging will be examined. Two lectures and one laboratory or demonstration per week. Only one version of A ATM 327 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A MAT 113 or 119 or T MAT 119; A PHY 105 or 140 or 141 or T PHY 141. Offered 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 or T MAT 118 and A ATM 211. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

A ATM 350 Meteorological Datasets and Numerical Computation (1)
An introduction to the UNIX and Linux operating systems; use of the General Meteorological Package (GEMPAK) to display meteorological information and perform diagnostic calculations; basics and utility of shell scripting; types of meteorological observational datasets and model output grid files. One joint class/laboratory period each week. Prerequisite(s): A ATM 211, 315. Offered Spring semester only.

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. Prerequisite(s): A ATM 311, 350. Corequisite(s): A ATM 410. Offered 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(s): A ATM 400. Corequisite(s): A ATM 411. Offered Spring semester only.

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 MAT 311. Corequisite(s): A ATM 320. May not be offered 2011-2012.

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(s): A ATM 410. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

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 315, 320, 321. Offered 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. Offered Spring semester only.

A ATM 414 Air Pollution Meteorology (3)
Analysis of physical, meteorological, and chemical processes influencing the life-cycle of harmful gaseous and particulant air pollutants. Prerequisite(s): A ATM 210, or permission of instructor. Offered alternate Spring semesters; will next be offered in Spring 2013.

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. Offered Spring semester only. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

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. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

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 or T MAT 119; A PHY 150 or 151 or T PHY 151. May not be offered in 2011-2012.

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 315; I CSI 204 or 205 or permission of instructor. May not be offered 2011-2012.

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. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing in atmospheric science. S/U graded.

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 standing, and by advisement only. Offered Fall or 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): I 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 standing, and permission of department chair. S/U graded.