Atmospheric Sciences

Atmospheric Sciences is a wide-ranging discipline that includes topics as diverse as weather forecasting, global warming, air quality, Pacific Northwest weather and climate, mountain weather, marine weather, El Nino, the ozone hole, ice ages, and the weather of Mars. It considers problems that are both scientifically challenging and critical for the welfare of modern society. These problems are addressed with theory, measurements, and computer simulations.

Undergraduate Program

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences offers the following programs of study:

• The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in atmospheric sciences
• A minor in atmospheric sciences

Bachelor of Science

Department Admission Requirements

Major Requirements

1. Core requirements (71 credits for the major, plus 5 credits for QSR): MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126; MATH 324; PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 123; AMATH 301, AMATH 351, AMATH 353; CSE 142; ATM S 301, ATM S 321, ATM S 340, ATM S 358, ATM S 370, ATM S 431, ATM S 441
2. Area of specialization: 19 credits of additional coursework at the 200 level or above, selected in consultation with the faculty adviser. Suggested options include meteorology, atmosphere and environment, atmosphere and ocean, and teacher education.
3. A grade of 2.0 or better in each of the required courses and an overall GPA in these courses of 2.50.

Pregraduate Program for Physical Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Majors

The following elective course sequence is suitable preparation for students interested in pursuing graduate study in atmospheric sciences: ATM S 301, ATM S 340, ATM S 441.

Minor

Student Outcomes and Opportunities

• Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes: The degree program qualifies students for professional employment in weather forecasting, air-quality control and monitoring, and other areas of atmospheric sciences and related fields. The baccalaureate degree also is appropriate preparation for graduate study in atmospheric sciences.

• Instructional and Research Facilities: Extensive computer resources are available in the Departmental Computer Laboratory. The Department also maintains an extensive collection of weather data in graphical and numerical electronic format. A study area is provided for undergraduates. An instrument laboratory is maintained with a wide range of observing and data collection systems. Students also have access to a machine shop and an electronics laboratory.

• Honors Options Available: With College Honors; With Distinction (Departmental Honors). See adviser for requirements.

• Research, Internships, and Service Learning: Internships are available either within the department or with outside organizations, providing a valuable opportunity to test a student's interests in various meteorological career paths and to extend the student's knowledge. A limited number of departmental scholarships are available each year, based on academic excellence or financial need. Employment opportunities are often available in one of the many departmental research groups, and some internships are paid.

  Students majoring in atmospheric sciences may take advantage of a variety of opportunities to enhance their education. Undergraduate students are welcome at the department's many seminars and colloquia and are encouraged to join in the annual forecast contest. They may work on independent research projects under the guidance of a faculty member, or be an active participant in a field program.

• Department Scholarships: The Bruce Caldwell Memorial Scholarship and the Anonymous Donor Atmospheric Sciences Scholarship, which are both awarded annually, based on both academic excellence and financial need.

• Student Organizations/Associations: Student Chapter of American Meteorological Society, Puget Sound American Meteorological Society Chapter, Weekly Weather Discussion for all majors.

Of Special Note: The first required atmospheric sciences course is ATM S 301, which is offered autumn quarter only. Any lower-division atmospheric sciences courses will count as electives and not as part of the major.

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
416 Atmospheric Sciences-Geophysics, Box 351640
206-543-4576
advise@atmos.washington.edu

Rapid growth of research in atmospheric sciences began in the late 1940s in response to needs and opportunities in weather forecasting. Extensive research is now underway to extend the time scale over which useful forecasts can be made and to increase the amount of regional and temporal detail in short-range forecasts. In addition, the atmospheric sciences now address a broad range of other problems of fundamental interest and importance. Examples include changes in climate that could result from increases in atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and the application of remote-sensing techniques to the monitoring and understanding of weather and climate.

Graduate students in the atmospheric sciences come from a variety of disciplines: physics, chemistry, engineering, atmospheric, or geophysical sciences, and applied mathematics. Opportunities are broad enough that each of these backgrounds is valuable for specific subfields within the atmospheric sciences. However, students of atmospheric sciences should have in common a sound background in the fundamentals of physics and applied mathematics and an interest in complex natural phenomena. Research projects and graduate courses in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences are closely related, and the well-prepared graduate student may expect to begin research work rather quickly.

Master of Science

Admission Requirements

• Complete Graduate School application (a copy must be sent to the department)
• Official copy of transcripts
• Statement of interests -- a one-page essay which addresses the reasons why the student wishes to pursue a graduate program in Atmospheric Sciences.
• GRE General Examination scores sent from the Educational Testing Service
• Three letters of recommendation, either submitted online or, using the appropriate forms, sent directly to the department by the evaluators
• For international applicants: TOEFL scores, sent by the testing service
• Deadline: January 15. Autumn quarter is the only quarter for which the department accepts applications.

Degree Requirements

The two-course dynamics sequence (ATM S 503, ATM S 504) is intended for those whose research specialty is outside the realm of dynamic meteorology. Most students are encouraged to take the three-course sequence in dynamics (ATM S 505, ATM S 509, ATM S 542).

Master's students need 36 credits to graduate (excluding seminars and colloquia): 27 of the credits presented must be from graded courses numbered 500 or above, of which at least 3 credits must be in approved applied mathematics courses and 24 must be in core atmospheric sciences courses. The remaining 9 credits should be in the form of ATM S 700, Master's Thesis. However, students intending to pursue a Ph.D should take all of the courses required above.

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

A student who wishes to be considered by the committee must first write a letter to the academic counselor and also to the student's M.S. committee, requesting admission into the Ph.D. program, and choosing one of the three following evaluation options:

• A student entering the department, having already earned an M.S. degree in the atmospheric sciences or a closely related discipline, may submit his or her M.S. thesis for evaluation in the first week of the autumn quarter of the student's second academic year in the department.
• A student may submit a draft of his or her University of Washington Department of Atmospheric Sciences M.S. thesis approved by the M.S. supervisory committee for evaluation.
• A student may submit for evaluation the manuscript of a peer-reviewed journal article on which the student is lead author.

Degree Requirements

• Coursework:
  • ATM S 501 (5), ATM S 502 (3)
  • ATM S 505 (4), ATM S 509 (4) (Students whose anticipated research has minimal connection with atmospheric dynamics, such as those involved in laboratory or field work in atmospheric chemistry or cloud microphysics, may take ATM S 503 and 504 in place of ATM S 505 and 509. See Graduate Program Coordinator before enrolling in ATM S 503.)
  • Either ATM S 532 (3) or ATM S 558 (3)
  • ATM S 535 (3), ATM S 542 (3)
  • Each of the following must be taken each quarter that coursework is taken: ATM S 520 (1), either ATM S 521 (1) or ATM S 524 (1), and ATM S 600 (up to 10 credits each quarter)
  • Electives: Students should take an appropriate number of elective courses in their areas of interest, as determined in consultation with adviser
  • Applied math: Either AMATH 401 (4), AMATH 567 (5), or AMATH 581 (5); either AMATH 402 (4) or AMATH 568 (5)
  • ATM S 700 (10 credits each quarter, beginning the second year of the program)
• General Examination
• Dissertation
• Final Examination

Assistantships

Nearly all graduate students are supported by either research assistantships or fellowships. Students are usually a teaching assistant during at least one quarter, in the second year of study. Students are supported full-time during the summer.