Atmospheric Science

Advisory Committee Sarbani Basu (Astronomy),
 Michelle Bell (School of the Environment),
 Alexey Fedorov (Earth & Planetary Sciences),
 Debra Fischer (Astronomy), Gary Haller (Emeritus; Chemical & Environmental Engineering),
 Xuhui Lee (School of the Environment),
 Juan Lora (Earth & Planetary Sciences),
 Mitchell Smooke (Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science; Applied Physics), Mary-Louise Timmermans (Earth & Planetary Sciences), John Wettlaufer (Earth & Planetary Sciences; Mathematics; Physics)

A number of departments of the Graduate School offer courses dealing with the physics, dynamics, and chemistry of the atmosphere, and the interactions of the atmosphere with the biosphere, oceans, and cryosphere, including all biogeochemical cycles. The mathematical and physical science basis for these phenomena is developed in course work and research foci across a range of departments. In order to permit students whose interests lie in the field of atmospheric science to develop an integrated program of studies, an interdisciplinary program is offered. Typical areas of interest included in the scope of the program are theory of weather and climate, computational fluid dynamics, air pollution from industrial and natural sources, urban environmental health, global climatic change, paleoclimatology, hydrometeorology, and dynamics of atmospheric and oceanic motions. The program is individually planned for each student through a faculty adviser system.

Special Admissions Requirements

A student should, on the basis of scientific orientation, seek admission to one of the participating departments. Individuals interested in Atmospheric Science should complete the admissions requirements for the specific participating department to which they will be applying, which may include the GRE General or Subject Test. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences is the focus for studies of physical and dynamical meteorology, oceanography, and atmospheric chemistry, with allied methods and approaches in the Program on Applied Mathematics. The departments of Applied Physics, Public Health, and Engineering & Applied Science (which includes the programs of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science) provide additional courses in environmental health and atmospherically related processes. The Ph.D. and M.Phil. requirements are those of the admitting departments. (See entries in this bulletin.)