Analyze global weather patterns, atmospheric dynamics, and the science of climate change.
Welcome to Climatology & Atmospheric Science. This course provides a deep dive into the physical processes that govern the Earth's atmosphere, determining the weather we experience daily and the long-term climate patterns that shape our biomes.
Students will explore the Earth's energy budget, atmospheric circulation, moisture dynamics, and severe weather phenomena. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of historical and contemporary climate change, utilizing data from ice cores, tree rings, and modern satellite observations.
By the end of this module, you will be equipped to analyze climate data, understand the output of global climate models, and critically evaluate the impacts of a changing climate on human and natural systems.
Environmental Science Majors
8-10 Hours / Week
Basic Physics & Geography
Data Analysis & Lectures
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the following core competencies:
Master the foundational pillars that drive this discipline.
The balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation.
The large-scale movement of air that distributes thermal energy across the surface of the Earth.
The hydrological cycle within the atmosphere, including humidity, cloud formation, and precipitation types.
Categorizing the world's climates based on temperature and precipitation patterns.
Discover how these concepts are actively used to solve critical challenges across various industries.
Understanding the dynamics of hurricanes, tornadoes, and droughts to improve early warning systems.
Using computational models to project future climate scenarios and assess mitigation strategies.
Applying climatological data to optimize crop selection and irrigation schedules.
Apply theoretical atmospheric concepts in our virtual laboratory environments. Manipulate variables and observe real-time spatial outcomes.
Manipulate wind speed, atmospheric pressure, and humidity to visualize real-time weather system formations and particle flows.
Launch Interactive LabExplore the Köppen-Geiger classification system. Filter by climate types and adjust coordinates to see global climate distributions.
Launch Interactive LabAnalyze historical and projected temperature anomalies. Adjust time periods and regions to view dynamic trend lines.
Launch Interactive LabModel rainfall and snowfall across different regions and seasons. Visualize data through interactive bar charts.
Launch Interactive LabInvestigate how the Earth's tilt creates seasons. Toggle temperature and precipitation overlays across hemispheres by month.
Launch Interactive LabCurated materials to support your academic journey and professional development.
Detailed information regarding our college-level curriculum.