Atmospheric Sciences, Minor

This course is to practice in preparing and presenting weathercasts for radio and television.  The instructors of this course will provide the students with: (1) information in the form of lectures and supplemental readings; (2) opportunities to practice weathercasting on video, and (3) advice, supervision, and guidance. In lecture, students will spend most of the course learning about geography and weathercasting rules. A large portion of the course is to practice the weathercasting and report.

Prerequisite: ATSC 2403.

This course is an introduction of the basic concept of meteorology. The focus is on the measurements of the atmosphere and weather related phenomenon. The principle of the instruments used to measure temperature, pressure, moisture, radiation, precipitation and other weather related properties of the atmosphere will be introduced. The differences among the observations from in-situ, balloon borne, airborne, and satellite borne instruments will be examined and discussed.

Prerequisite: ATSC 2403.

This course will enhance student skills for analyzing atmospheric science-related datasets under various scientific programming environments. The focus is on developing a data analysis and problem-solving skillsets using mostly Python. The course includes: basic concepts of operating systems and high-level programming languages; basics of programming in Python; general data analysis methods and tools; scientific data formats used in remote sensing data and numerical model output; publication-quality scientific graphics; and critical steps of building a large programming project. Examples with IDL and FORTRAN are also included.

This course is an introduction to meteorology and the dynamics of planetary atmospheres. Emphasis on atmospheric accretion, composition, evolution, structure, and dynamics. Lab exercises cover basic measurement techniques, weather maps, and forecasting.

This course will cover the fundamentals of atmospheric physics including atmospheric composition, kinetic theory of gases, stratospheric ozone chemistry, magnetosphere phenomena, fair-weather electric field, nucleation processes, cloud microphysics, precipitation processes, visibility and optics, lightning and atmospheric electrification, hydrometeors and aerosol science, air pollution concepts and transport, and scattering of electromagnetic radiation.

Prerequisite: ATSC 2403 and PHYS 2425^*.
^* May be taken concurrently.

This course introduces a foundation in the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. After a brief review of general thermodynamics, the emphasis is given to the basic principles that are useful for the application to atmospheric problems. The course covers a number of atmospheric processes that are basically thermodynamic in nature. The specific topics include aerological diagrams, atmospheric statics, and vertical stability.

Prerequisite: ATSC 2403 and PHYS 2425^*.
^* May be taken concurrently.

This course focuses on introducing middle-latitude synoptic weather phenomenon, including planet waves, frontal systems etc. We will apply principles of Dynamic Meteorology in regards to processes in the atmosphere, weather elements and forecasting. We will examine the structure and dynamics of these systems by integrating weather observations with the current state of dynamic theory, numerical weather prediction models, and the physical principles of atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud and precipitation physics.

Prerequisite: ATSC 3306^* and MATH 2413.
^* May be taken concurrently.

This course focuses on introducing mesoscale weather systems including thunderstorms, squall lines and hurricanes, as well as the mechanisms of tornado and lighting. The methods of observing, analyzing, and predicting these severe weather systems with the interpretation of satellite and radar images will also be introduced in this class.

Prerequisite: ATSC 3306.

This course focuses on introductory-level atmospheric dynamics. Basic concepts of geophysical fluid dynamics and its application to a variety of atmospheric phenomena are introduced. Specific topics include the equations of motion on rotating earth, vorticity, potential vorticity, divergence, circulation theorem, and planetary wave.

Prerequisite: MATH 2413.

This course is a continuation of ATSC 4301 (Dynamic Meteorology I), which covers the introductory-level atmospheric dynamics.  The course introduces more advance materials including equatorial waves, baroclinic and barotropic instability, two-dimensional turbulence, atmospheric teleconnection, El Nino/Southern Oscillation, Madden-Julian Oscillation, global warming, and numerical modeling of atmospheric circulations.

Prerequisite: ATSC 4301.

This course aims to introduce the fundamentals of satellite/airborne remote sensing techniques and demonstrates its application to various aspects of Earth Sciences. Topics include physical principles of remote sensing from ultraviolet to the microwave, radiometry, sensors and sensor technology, calibration, and environmental applications for land, ocean and atmosphere research.

Prerequisite: PHYS 2426.

This course intended to guide environmental science undergraduate students in developing a conceptual understanding of Earth's global climate and its variability. Review past climates, present mean state of the climate system, climate variability from seasonal to multi-decadal time scales, and climate change.  Special attention will be given to climates of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and surrounding land regions. Plausible climate-change scenarios, as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies will also be discussed. Cross listed with ESCI 4335.

Prerequisite: ATSC 2403.

Numerical modeling solves prognostic equations using a time-stepping procedure to simulate fluid behavior. Atmospheric models input a statistically optimized set of observations and solve momentum equations, a thermodynamic equation, the ideal gas law, and a conservation of mass equation. Atmospheric models are used for weather forecasting, case study simulations, climate change studies, and diagnostic studies. This course teaches the fundamental concepts of atmospheric modeling and a variety of practical applications.

Prerequisite: MATH 2413.

Requires a formal proposal of study to be completed in advance of registration and to be approved by the supervising faculty, the Chairperson, and the Dean of the College. This class may be repeated for credit after proper approval.

ATSC 4498 (Internship in Atmospheric Science) gives ATSC undergraduates an opportunity to obtain valuable paid or unpaid work experience related to atmospheric science, to better position them for employment after graduation. Students contract to work a specified number of hours weekly over a full semester with a state or federal agency or private industry related to atmospheric science, in return for college credit as follows:  3-6 hrs./week=1 sem. hr., 6-9 hrs./week =2 sem. hrs., 9-12 hrs./week=3 sem. hrs., 12-15 hrs./week=4 sem. hrs.  Students may contract for 1-2 sem. hrs. in a single summer session (5.5 weeks) but may contract for up to 4 sem. hrs. if carrying out internship over a regular long semester or two summer sessions (11 weeks). If interning for the summer, students should increase the number of hours interned weekly to account for the shortened period worked, so total hours interned will be equivalent to those in a regular long semester. A student may intern only twice with a single office or agency.  The internships will not apply towards graduate credit.

This course includes special topics with variable content. May be repeated for credit. Offered on sufficient demand.