ATM F101X      Weather and Climate of Alaska      (n, a)
4 Credits

Offered Spring

Focus on the atmosphere as an important part of our environment. Study of weather and climate that covers weather observation, composition and properties of the atmosphere, weather and circulation systems, forecasting weather based on fundamental laws of physics and chemistry. Students are required to make weather observations in Alaska. The students will use their local observations as a foundation and a vantage point to understand the regional and global behavior of the atmosphere (i.e., "Observe locally and connect globally").

Prerequisites: Placement in WRTG F111X; placement in DEVM F105.

Attributes: UAF GER Natural Science Req

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 3 + 0

ATM F401      Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
3 Credits

Offered Fall

Fundamentals of atmospheric science. Includes energy and mass conservation, internal energy and entropy, atmospheric water vapor, cloud microphysics, equations of motion, hydrostatics, phase oxidation, heterogeneous chemistry, the ozone layer, fundamentals of biogeochemical cycles, solar and terrestrial radiation and radiative-convective equilibrium. Also includes molecular, cloud and aerosol absorption and scattering.

Prerequisites: CHEM F105X; CHEM F106X; MATH F302; PHYS F212X.

Stacked with ATM F601; CHEM F601.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F413      Atmospheric Radiation
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Fundamentals of blackbody radiation theory and radiative properties of atmospheric constituents. Discussion of gaseous absorption including line absorption, broadening effects and radiative transfer. Includes scattering, radiative properties of clouds and radiation climatology.

Prerequisites: ATM F401 (may be taken concurrently).

Cross-listed with PHYS F413.

Stacked with ATM F613, PHYS F613.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F415      Cloud Physics
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Basic properties of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere. Formation and behavior of clouds including the nature of atmospheric aerosols, nucleation and growth of water droplets and ice crystals, the development of precipitation, nature of mixed-phase (water and ice) clouds, how transfer of radiation depends on the character of clouds, and how humans are modifying clouds and precipitation both intentionally and unintentionally. Field trips will collect data at the Arctic Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing (AFARS). Microscopic examination and have available for use of a sophisticated cloud model.

Prerequisites: ATM F401 (may be taken concurrently).

Stacked with ATM F615.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F444      Weather Analysis and Forecasting
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Weather systems and the techniques used to understand and predict their behavior. Topics include atmospheric observations, synoptic analysis techniques, satellite image interpretation, kinematics, fronts and frontogenesis, life cycles of extratropical cyclones, mesoscale phenomena, numerical weather prediction and interpretation of forecast products.

Prerequisites: ATM F401; ATM F445.

Stacked with ATM F644.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F445      Atmospheric Dynamics
3 Credits

Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Examination of the fundamental forces and basic conservation laws that govern the motion of the atmosphere. Topics include momentum, continuity equations, circulation, vorticity, thermodynamics, the planetary boundary layer and synoptic scale motions in mid-latitudes.

Prerequisites: ATM F401 (may be taken concurrently).

Stacked with ATM F645.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F456      Climate and Climate Change      (a)
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

The climate of planet Earth and its changes with time. Radiative fluxes, greenhouse effects, energy budget, hydrological cycle, the atmospheric composition and climatic zones. Physical and chemical reasons for climatic change.

Prerequisites: Any 400 level Physics or Chemistry course or ATM F401; basic computer skills.

Stacked with ATM F656.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F488      Undergraduate Research
1-3 Credits

Advanced research topics from outside the usual undergraduate requirements.

Recommended: A substantial level of technical/scientific background.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 0

ATM F601      Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
3 Credits

Offered Fall

Fundamentals of atmospheric science. Includes energy and mass conservation, internal energy and entropy, atmospheric water vapor, cloud microphysics, equations of motion, hydrostatics, phase oxidation, heterogeneous chemistry, the ozone layer, fundamentals of biogeochemical cycles, solar and terrestrial radiation and radiative-convective equilibrium. Also includes molecular, cloud and aerosol absorption and scattering.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

Cross-listed with CHEM F601.

Stacked with ATM F401.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F606      Atmospheric Chemistry
3 Credits

Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Chemistry of the lower atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere) including photochemistry, kinetics, thermodynamics, box modeling, biogeochemical cycles and measurement techniques for atmospheric pollutants; study of important impacts to the atmosphere which result from anthropogenic emissions of pollutants, including acid rain, the "greenhouse" effect, urban smog and stratospheric ozone depletion.

Prerequisites: ATM F601.

Cross-listed with CHEM F606.

Stacked with CHEM F406.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F610      Analysis Methods in Meteorology and Climate
3 Credits

Offered Spring Odd-numbered Years

Introduction to standard analysis topics in Atmospheric Sciences, including basic aggregate stats, time series work, eigenmode analysis, mixed models, and extreme value analysis. Focus on manipulation of very large data sets, especially weather/climate model output. Hands-on instruction in supporting computer topics. Student presentations will be emphasized.

Prerequisites: ATM F601; graduate standing.

Recommended: Basic computer and mathematical knowledge to analyze and plot data.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F613      Atmospheric Radiation
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Fundamentals of blackbody radiation theory and radiative properties of atmospheric constituents. Discussion of gaseous absorption including line absorption, broadening effects and radiative transfer. Includes scattering, radiative properties of clouds, and radiation climatology.

Prerequisites: ATM F601 (may be taken concurrently); graduate standing.

Cross-listed with PHYS F613.

Stacked with ATM F413, PHYS F413.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F615      Cloud Physics
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Basic properties of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere. Formation and behavior of clouds including the nature of atmospheric aerosols, nucleation and growth of water droplets and ice crystals, the development of precipitation, nature of mixed-phase (water and ice) clouds, how transfer of radiation depends on the character of clouds, and how humans are modifying clouds and precipitation both intentionally and unintentionally. Field trips will collect data at the Arctic Facility for Atmospheric Remote Sensing (AFARS). Microscopic examination and have available for use of a sophisticated cloud model.

Prerequisites: ATM F601; graduate standing.

Stacked with ATM F415.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F620      Climate Journal Club Seminar
1 Credit

Offered Spring

The "Climate Group" is in informal meeting for researchers and graduate students. The seminars alternate between progress reports on ongoing research and journal club contributions. The main interests articles, formal and informal presentation by locals and visitors will be on the agenda. Participating students will be exposed to a free format discussion of modern ideas in climate related disciplines. All students are encouraged to contribute and students taking the course for credit are required to lead the discussion for one session. This may include the presentation of a research plan/results, or a discussion of a journal article. Students will be graded on at least one presentation and participation in the class.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 1 + 0 + 0

ATM F621      Introduction to Computational Meteorology
1 Credit

Offered Fall

Introduce the basic knowledge on how to apply software related to atmospheric sciences problems. This includes knowledge of UNIX/LINUX, FORTRAN90, IDL, NCL, MATLAB and how to read NetCDF files, grib-files, etc., which are special data formats in which climate data are available. Students will learn how to run given software products on UNIX/LINUX and other platforms and basic tools to modify these programs for their purposes.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 1 + 0 + 0

ATM F631      Environmental Fate and Transport
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Examination of the physical properties that govern the behavior, fate and transport of contaminants released into the environment. Topics include air-water partitioning and exchange, organic solvent-water partitioning, diffusion, sorption, chemical and biological transformation reactions, and modeling concepts.

Cross-listed with CHEM F631.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F644      Weather Analysis and Forecasting
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Weather systems and the techniques used to understand and predict their behavior. Topics include atmospheric observations, synoptic analysis techniques, satellite image interpretation, kinematics, fronts and frontogenesis, life cycles of extratropical cyclones, mesoscale phenomena, numerical weather prediction and interpretation of forecast products.

Prerequisites: ATM F601; ATM F645.

Stacked with ATM F444.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F645      Atmospheric Dynamics
3 Credits

Offered Fall Even-numbered Years

Examination of the fundamental forces and basic conservation laws that govern the motion of the atmosphere. Topics include momentum, continuity equations, circulation, vorticity, thermodynamics, the planetary boundary layer and synoptic scale motions in mid-latitudes.

Prerequisites: ATM F601 (may be taken concurrently); graduate standing.

Stacked with ATM F445.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F647      Fundamentals of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

Introduction to the mechanics of fluid systems, the fundamental processes, Navier-Stokes' equations in rotating and stratified fluids, kinematics, conservation laws, vortex motion, irrotational flow, laminar flow, boundary layer phenomena, waves, instabilities, turbulent flows and mixing.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

Cross-listed with PHYS F647.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F656      Climate and Climate Change      (a)
3 Credits

Offered Fall Odd-numbered Years

The climate of planet Earth and its changes with time. Radiative fluxes, greenhouse effects, energy budget, hydrological cycle, the atmospheric composition and climatic zones. Physical and chemical reasons for climatic change.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing; calculus, physics or related courses at F400-level, basic computer skills.

Recommended: ATM F601 or ATM F401; basic computer knowledge to plot and analyze climate data.

Stacked with ATM F456.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F658      Air-sea Interactions
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Course covers the basics processes governing air-sea interactions at different temporal and spatial scales including; transfer of heat and momentum through air-sea surface, interactions of atmospheric and oceanic mixed layers, important examples of air-sea interactions; i.e. El Niño and interactions between high-latitude atmosphere and ocean.

Prerequisites: ATM F601; graduate standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F662      Numerical Modeling and Parameterization Methods
3 Credits

Offered Spring Even-numbered Years

Construction of models from fundamental equations and the necessity of parameterizations. Simplification and discretization of equations, numerical methods, model-grids, analytical modeling, boundary and initial conditions, parameterizations and evaluation of model results. Scale-dependency, limitations of parameterizations and coupled modeling are elucidated. Students apply and code aspects of models themselves.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing; calculus, physics or related F400-level basic computer skills.

Recommended: ATM F601; basic knowledge in Fortran and UNIX/LINUX.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F666      Atmospheric Remote Sensing
3 Credits

Offered Spring Odd-numbered years

Modern atmospheric research is becoming increasingly reliant on measurements made from afar using instruments sensing various portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Using principally microwave radars and visible-wavelength laser lidars, often combined with passive measurements from radiometers, many properties of the atmosphere can be routinely profiled by remote sensors located at the ground, from aircraft, or satellite. This course will concentrate on the fundamentals of these families of active remote sensors including their designs and operating principles, applicable backscattering and extinction theories, and derive their basic radar equation.

Prerequisites: ATM F401 or ATM F601; graduate standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F673      Introduction to Micrometeorology
3 Credits

A comprehensive explanation of micrometeorology, its basic theories of physics, mechanisms, measurement procedures, methods and how micrometeorological processes interact with the meso- and large-scale atmospheric motion. This class will deal with weather conditions on a small scale, both in terms of space and time. For example, weather conditions lasting less than a day in the area immediately surrounding a smokestack, a building, air flow in street channels, or a small air shed

Prerequisites: ATM F601; graduate standing.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F678      Mesoscale Dynamics
3 Credits

Offered As Demand Warrants

A comprehensive explanation of mesoscale air motions -- their phenology, basic physics and mechanisms, why they build and how mesoscale motions interact with the micro and large scale. Classical and non-classical mesoscale circulations, super cell, single and multiple cell thunderstorm dynamics and tornado formation.

Prerequisites: ATM F401 or ATM F601.

Recommended: 400-level physics, calculus I to III.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 3 + 0 + 0

ATM F688      Atmospheric Science Informal Seminar
1 Credit

Review of ongoing research in atmospheric science to learn about research results, ideas and direction long before they are published in journals. Presentations cover the broad range of atmospheric sciences and links to other disciplines as required to answer questions on global variability, climate change and assessment studies.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in physical sciences.

Lecture + Lab + Other: 1 + 0 + 0

ATM F692      Seminar
1-3 Credits

Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 0

ATM F692P      Seminar
1-3 Credits

Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 0

ATM F698      Non-thesis Research/Project
1-12 Credits

Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 1-12

ATM F699      Thesis
1-12 Credits

Lecture + Lab + Other: 0 + 0 + 1-12