ATM OCN 100 — WEATHER AND CLIMATE

3 credits.

Nature and variability of wind, temperature, clouds and precipitation. Storm systems, fronts, thunderstorms, tornadoes and their prediction. Air composition and pollution. Global winds, seasonal changes, climate and climatic change.

ATM OCN 101 — WEATHER AND CLIMATE

4 credits.

Nature and variability of wind, temperature, clouds and precipitation. Storm systems, fronts, thunderstorms, tornadoes and their prediction. Air composition and pollution. Global winds, seasonal changes, climate and climatic change. Includes map analyses and basic quantitative lab exercises.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOSCI  102 — CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3 credits.

Describes the basic climate principles governing the climate system. It describes the climate and climate variability at present, climate evolution in the past, and the projected climate change into the future. The scientific principles underlying the natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect and climate model forecasts are elucidated.

ATM OCN/​GEOSCI  105 — SURVEY OF OCEANOGRAPHY

3-4 credits.

Nature and behavior of ocean water, interaction of oceans and atmosphere, structure of the ocean floor, life in the oceans, our relationship to the marine environment.

ATM OCN/​SOIL SCI  132 — EARTH'S WATER: NATURAL SCIENCE AND HUMAN USE

3 credits.

Water is central to the functioning of planet Earth. As humans increase their impact on Earth's systems and cohabitants, our understanding of the multiple roles of water becomes critical to finding sustainable strategies for human and ecosystem health. Explores the science of Earth's hydrosphere, with constant attention to human uses and impacts.

ATM OCN/​GEOSCI  140 — NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS

3 credits.

An exploration of the science behind natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods. Why, where, and when do these events occur, and why are some predictable but others are not? Addresses hazard assessment, forecasting, and mitigation to lessen their impact on society.

ATM OCN 141 — NATURAL HAZARDS OF WEATHER

2 credits.

Explores the basic science of weather hazards ongoing around the globe and practical issues of Prediction, Risk Reduction, Resilience and Vulnerability (PRRRV) associated with these hazards.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST  171 — GLOBAL CHANGE: ATMOSPHERIC ISSUES AND PROBLEMS

2-3 credits.

Atmospheric problems of global significance. Greenhouse warming, ozone layer, acid rain, climate change. Study based on elementary principles of atmospheric science. Systems approach applied to changing atmospheric composition. Interactions among geochemical cycles, anthropogenic inputs and other parts of the environment.

ATM OCN 201 — EXPLORATIONS OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCES

2-3 credits.

Exploration of a field within atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Exposure to scientific principles, current findings, and career routes as it applies to topics such as meteorology, weather systems and weather forecasting, climate and climate change, atmospheric satellite remote sensing, oceanography, and professional careers in the discipline.

ATM OCN 310 — DYNAMICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN I

3 credits.

Introduction to theory of fluid motions for atmosphere and ocean. Elementary kinematics, fundamental forces, effects of earth's gravity and rotation, concepts and applications of hydrostatic and geostrophic balance.

ATM OCN 311 — DYNAMICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN II

3 credits.

Intermediate theory of fluid motions for atmosphere and ocean. Emphasis on large scale applications and basic theory for geophysical wave types. Thermal wind shear, frictional flow, vorticity concepts, Rossby waves, Sverdrup ocean flow.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG  322 — POLAR REGIONS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

3 credits.

Reviews the past, present, and future of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Covers the history, geography, atmospheric and ocean circulations, permafrost, ice sheets, glaciers, and future state of the Arctic and Antarctica as projected by earth system models. Also explores the role of the polar regions in the earth's system and associated global climatic feedbacks.

ATM OCN/​GEOG  323 — SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

3 credits.

Calculus-based treatment of climate system physics and the mechanisms of modern-day anthropogenic climate change. Covers how solar radiation and rotating fluid dynamics determine the basic climate state; mechanisms of natural variability and change in climate; why anthropogenic climate change is occurring; and which scientific uncertainties are most important to estimates of 21st century change.

ATM OCN 330 — PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN I

3 credits.

Physical variables, laws, characteristics and direct measurements for atmosphere and ocean. Thermodynamics and moist atmospheric processes. Basic physics of clouds, precipitation, and chemical constituents.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG  332 — GLOBAL WARMING: SCIENCE AND IMPACTS

3 credits.

Offers a fundamental understanding of how and why global warming is happening and what to expect in the future. Investigate and discuss the evidence for change, the science that explains these observations, predicted impacts on humans and ecosystems, and the societal debate over proposed solutions.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG/​GEOSCI  335 — CLIMATIC ENVIRONMENTS OF THE PAST

3 credits.

Climate change at timescales from the last several million years to the last 100 years, with emphasis on more recent timescales. Examines how climate variability arises from interplay between external forcings, feedbacks within the earth system, and (more recently) human activity.

ATM OCN 340 — PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN II

3 credits.

Radiation, energy budget, and cloud physics. Scattering, absorption, emission and diabatic heating by shortwave and longwave processes. Introduction to cloud physics including cloud nucleation processes, particle growth, precipitation development, and convective cloud processes.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST  355 — INTRODUCTION TO AIR QUALITY

3 credits.

Links chemistry and meteorology to engineering, law, policy, and public health. Presents key ideas in air quality, with focus on reactive pollutants in the outdoor environment, especially gas and particle phase chemicals that react with human tissue to cause sickness and death. Discusses environmental impacts of these pollutants and regulatory approaches for their control in the U.S. and around the world. Indoor air quality will be included. Non-reactive pollutants, especially carbon dioxide, will be compared and contrasted with reactive air pollutants.

ATM OCN 401 — TOPICS IN METEOROLOGY

2-3 credits.

Special topics to be given as the need and opportunity arise.

ATM OCN 404 — METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS

2 credits.

Practical experience in planning experiment implementation, performing instrument quality control, conducting computational data analysis, and writing and presenting of meteorological and climatological observations in a team setting.

ATM OCN 405 — AOS SENIOR CAPSTONE SEMINAR

1 credit.

Provides synthesis and overview. Research on topic of the student's choosing is presented at the end.

ATM OCN 425 — GLOBAL CLIMATE PROCESSES

3 credits.

Overview of physical processes of the atmosphere and its coupling to the ocean and land. Understanding its seasonal climatology and variability. Synthesis through application of junior AOS core dynamics and physics to quantitatively understand diabatic, transport, and dissipative processes. Examples include global warming, air-ocean coupling, ENSO, ozone hole, tropospheric water and chemistry issues, diurnal to interannual time scales.

ATM OCN 441 — RADAR AND SATELLITE METEOROLOGY

3 credits.

Provides necessary knowledge about radar and satellite meteorology.

ATM OCN 452 — SYNOPTIC LABORATORY I: THE FRONTAL CYCLONE

4 credits.

Cyclone and frontal theory; case studies illustrating the structure and evolution of the frontal cyclone; diagnostic techniques: interpretation of satellite photographs, preparation of vertical cross sections and isentropic analysis.

ATM OCN 453 — SYNOPTIC LABORATORY II: MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY

4 credits.

Local wind systems, thunderstorms, mesoscale convection systems, interactions with synoptic scale weather. Analysis, prediction, nowcasting and observation of mesoscale weather, including interpretation of satellite and radar information.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST  520 — BIOCLIMATOLOGY

3 credits.

How climate systems and biological organisms operate and interact at the global scale and the implications of this for climate change, ecosystem ecology and human land use.

ATM OCN 522 — TROPICAL METEOROLOGY

3 credits.

Characteristics of the tropical atmosphere; local and diurnal phenomena; tropical synoptic systems; circulation and energetics; mechanisms of tropical climate variations.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG  528 — PAST CLIMATES AND CLIMATIC CHANGE

3 credits.

Climatic change throughout geologic time, especially in the last 10 millennia; mechanisms of change, evidence, and criteria, paleogeography and paleoclimatology, climate models.

ATM OCN/​AGRONOMY/​SOIL SCI  532 — ENVIRONMENTAL BIOPHYSICS

3 credits.

Plant-environment interactions with particular reference to energy exchanges and water relations. Models are used to provide a quantitative synthesis of information from plant physiology, soil physics, and micrometeorology with some consideration of plant-pest interactions.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST  535 — ATMOSPHERIC DISPERSION AND AIR POLLUTION

3 credits.

Physical principles of atmospheric transport processes. Variation of transport in time and place. Local and regional concentrations of pollutants. Environmental implications of air pollution and control strategies.

ATM OCN 573 — COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCES

3 credits.

An introduction to multiple programming languages and technical computing methods used in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Data analysis methods and software development for specialized applications related to the field are also highlighted.

ATM OCN 575 — CLIMATOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

3-4 credits.

Mathematical and statistical tools applicable to the investigation of climatological problems; nature and treatment of climatological data.

ATM OCN 610 — GEOPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS I

3 credits.

Basic dynamic concepts: equations of motion, basic approximations, Coriolis force, wave motions, normal modes, gravity waves, frictional turbulence and convective processes, geostrophic adjustment, scaling argument, effects of rotation on wave motions. Vorticity and potential vorticity.

ATM OCN 611 — GEOPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS II

3 credits.

Quasi-geostrophic motion, potential vorticity equations, E-P fluxes, Rossby waves, boundary layer processes, wind-driven ocean circulation and western boundary currents, barotropic and baroclinic instability, tropical flows.

ATM OCN 615 — LABORATORY IN ROTATING FLUID DYNAMICS

1 credit.

Rotating fluid experiments, theory and data analysis are used to deepen understanding of geophysical fluid dynamics and observed phenomena in the atmosphere and ocean. Focuses on hands-on experiences in the rotating tank lab and with real data.

ATM OCN 630 — INTRODUCTION TO ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC PHYSICS

3 credits.

Covers thermodynamics theory of multiphase systems, thermodynamic analysis of atmosphere, microphysical processes in the atmosphere, atmospheric and oceanic chemical processes, conduction of heat and moisture into the atmosphere from ocean and land surface.

ATM OCN 637 — CLOUD PHYSICS

3-4 credits.

Processes of cloud formation, growth, and dissipation from the standpoint of both the cloud particles and the whole cloud as a dynamic entity.

ATM OCN 638 — ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY

3 credits.

Evolution of the atomsphere, chemical structure, instrumental analysis, trace gases, aerosol mechanics, chemical processes.

ATM OCN 640 — RADIATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN

3 credits.

Introduction to radiation: basic laws, radiative transfer under clear sky conditions, scattering by individual particles, multiple scattering, radiative properties of clouds and aerosols, energy budget, miscellaneous applications.

ATM OCN 651 — SYNOPTIC-DYNAMIC LABORATORY

3 credits.

Quantitative lab applications of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics to synoptic systems. Jet stream systems, cyclone development, global air motions, performance of numerical prediction models, local surface forecasting.

ATM OCN 660 — INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY

3 credits.

Physical properties of sea water: ocean climatology, water, salt and heat budget, measurements, ocean circulation and water mass of the world ocean, thermocline, thermohaline, equatorial ocean and southern ocean.

ATM OCN 681 — SENIOR HONORS THESIS

3 credits.

Individual mentored study for seniors completing theses for Honors in the Major as arranged with a faculty member.

ATM OCN 682 — SENIOR HONORS THESIS

3 credits.

Individual mentored study for seniors completing theses for Honors in the Major as arranged with a faculty member.

ATM OCN 691 — SENIOR THESIS

2-3 credits.

Individual mentored study for seniors completing theses, as arranged with a faculty member.

ATM OCN 692 — SENIOR THESIS

2-3 credits.

Individual mentored study for seniors completing theses, as arranged with a faculty member.

ATM OCN 698 — DIRECTED STUDY

1-5 credits.

Independent study as arranged with a faculty member.

ATM OCN 699 — DIRECTED STUDY

1-5 credits.

Independent study as arranged with a faculty member.

ATM OCN/​CIV ENGR  701 — THE CHEMISTRY OF AIR POLLUTION

2 credits.

Covers background and modern research methods for the application of chemical analysis tools to understanding of the origin, composition, and the chemical transformations of pollutants that occur in the atmosphere. Emphasis will be directed at the pollutants impacting human health, climate change, and ecosystem degradation. Approximately half of the course materials will be taken from the scientific literature and will provide the opportunity to advance skills in the critical reading of journal articles. The course is directed at graduate students conducting research and interested in air pollution and environmental chemistry. Gain experiences in presenting scientific research methods and results related to course materials.

ATM OCN 705 — THE MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE

3 credits.

Dynamics, chemistry and radiation of the stratosphere and mesosphere. Structure and composition. Observing techniques. Gravity, Rossby, and Kelvin waves. Wave-mean flow interaction. Instabilities. Tracer transport. Modeling the middle atmosphere. Ozone layer. Greenhouse effect.

ATM OCN 712 — GENERAL CIRCULATION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

3 credits.

The theory of the general circulation with emphasis on the sources, sinks, and transport of mass, angular momentum, and energy that serve to maintain the circumpolar vortex.

ATM OCN 718 — DYNAMICS OF MOIST CONVECTIVE SYSTEMS

3 credits.

Governing equations for non-hydrostatic dynamics, mixed phase thermodynamics and microphysics. Cumulus parameterization and scale interactions. Application to theoretical and numerical models of thunderstorms (and attendant weather phenomena) and Mesoscale Convective Systems in the extra tropics and tropics.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST  745 — METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE APPLICATIONS

2-3 credits.

Use of satellite imagery and measurements in meteorological research and operations; orbital characteristics; navigation; instrumentation.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST/​GEOSCI/​ZOOLOGY  750 — PROBLEMS IN OCEANOGRAPHY

3 credits.

Introduction to techniques used in the study of the biology, chemistry, geology, and physics of the marine environment.

ATM OCN 751 — THE FRONTAL CYCLONE

3 credits.

Application of fundamental dynamics and thermodynamics to cyclone and frontal theory; case studies illustrating the structure and evolution of the frontal cyclone; diagnostic consideration of vertical motions, frontogenesis and potential inversion; computational analysis of fundamental diagnostic equations, analysis of vertical cross sections.

ATM OCN 753 — MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY

3 credits.

Synthesizes the fundamentals of atmospheric dynamics, thermodynamics and microphysics to explain the theory behind the structure, evolution and prediction of microscale, mesoscale and cloud scale weather. Learn the dynamics, and thermodynamics of mesoscale, fogs, cumulus, and severe storms (including tornadoes), mountain meteorology and convective tropical weather systems (including hurricanes and typhoons) and application of multi-scale numerical methods and models for analysis and prediction.

ATM OCN 760 — LARGE-SCALE OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE COUPLING

3 credits.

Various aspects of global ocean-atmosphere coupling and climate variability; global surface flux distribution; mixed layer dynamics; tropical dynamics and El Nino and Southern Oscillation; extratropical ocean-atmosphere coupling; interannual to interdecadal climate variability.

ATM OCN 773 — BOUNDARY LAYER METEOROLOGY

3 credits.

Observations of and theories for boundary layers, turbulence, spectra, plumes, dust devils, convection, terrain effects, and other phenomena in the lowest 2 km of the atmosphere.

ATM OCN 801 — TOPICS IN THEORETICAL METEOROLOGY

2-3 credits.

Advanced level subjects in dynamics, synoptics, climate-dynamics and atmospheric physics including recent advances.

ATM OCN 810 — PRACTICAL TRAINING IN ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCES I

1 credit.

Practical training in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Provides direct, hands-on exposure to careers in the discipline. Includes placement into student-designed or existing internship in atmospheric and oceanic science related companies, agencies, and organizations.

ATM OCN 811 — PRACTICAL TRAINING IN ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCES II

2 credits.

Practical training in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Provides direct hands-on exposure to careers in the discipline. Continues the internship in atmospheric and oceanic science related companies, agencies, and organizations. Develop a portfolio of items necessary for the American Meteorological Society Certified Consulting Meteorology exam.

ATM OCN 900 — SEMINAR-METEOROLOGY

1-2 credits.

Discussion of the philosophy of science, communication, and history of atmospheric and oceanic science topics.

ATM OCN/​BOTANY/​CIV ENGR/​ENVIR ST/​GEOSCI/​ZOOLOGY  911 — LIMNOLOGY AND MARINE SCIENCE SEMINAR

1 credit.

Sections in various fields of zoological research.

ATM OCN/​ENVIR ST  925 — SEMINAR-CLIMATOLOGY

1-2 credits.

Historical climatology with emphasis on the last few centuries.

ATM OCN/​AGRONOMY/​BOTANY/​ENTOM/​ENVIR ST/​F&W ECOL/​GEOG/​ZOOLOGY  953 — INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY RESEARCH AT UW-MADISON

1-2 credits.

Introduces new graduate students to the diversity of ecologists across the UW-Madison campus. Includes discussions of key topics in professional development, research presentations by faculty members, and discussions of assigned papers with senior graduate students.

ATM OCN 965 — SEMINAR-OCEANOGRAPHY

1-2 credits.

Advanced topics in oceanography.

ATM OCN/​BOTANY/​ENVIR ST/​F&W ECOL/​GEOG/​GEOSCI/​ZOOLOGY  980 — EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SEMINAR

1 credit.

Topics in earth system science. Emphasis on the coupling between atmospheric, oceanic and land surface systems, involving physical geochemical and biological processes, and including interactions with human systems.

ATM OCN 990 — RESEARCH

1-12 credits.

Research with atmospheric and oceanic science faculty advisors.

ATM OCN 999 — ADVANCED INDEPENDENT STUDY

1-6 credits.

Advanced independent study as arranged with a faculty member.