Introduction
Atmospheric Sciences is a wide-ranging discipline that includes topics as diverse as
weather forecasting, global warming, air quality, mountain weather, marine weather, El
Nino, the ozone hole, ice ages, and the weather of Mars. It considers problems that are
both scientifically challenging and critical for the welfare of modern society.
Atmospheric sciences majors are prepared for a range of career options including weather
forecasting, environmental meteorology, TV weather casting, further study at a graduate
institution, or a variety of alternative career paths. Students who choose the Meteorology
option of the program are eligible for the rating of professional meteorologist given by
the United States Civil Service Commission.
History
Founded in 1947, the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of
Washington, one of the leading departments in the world, is respected for its excellence
in both teaching and research. Our faculty are known for their leadership in many aspects
of the field and have authored more than a dozen textbooks that are widely used around
the world. The Department maintains the only comprehensive undergraduate program in
atmospheric sciences in the northwestern US, and prepares its students for a wide range
of careers.
Facilities:
The Department receives a wide range of weather data and forecast model output through
Internet links, including surface and upper air data, radar and satellite imagery, and
forecast output from several major numerical weather prediction centers. It maintains
interactive software for acquiring, displaying, and printing all forms of observations and
model output, as well as instruments for taking local observations.
The Department maintains a full suite of meteorological
Sensors on the roof of our building
Students can view and analyze weather data on department computers, including those in
the student computer laboratory.
The 6th Floor Student Computer Lab.
The department maintains a map room on the sixth floor for viewing weather data in
either print or electronic forms. The map room is a frequent gathering place where
students and faculty informally discuss the current weather situation, and where students
can work on joint projects.
Our new maproom and student lounge
The Department also maintains an instruments laboratory where students learn about a
number of types of observational instrumentation, as well as their interfacing with
computers.
The Atmospheric Sciences Major:
Entering the Major
There are no entrance requirements. A student may declare Atmospheric Sciences as a
major upon admission to the university.
However, there are courses which must be completed, either at the UW or another
institution, before beginning the Atmospheric Sciences majors' curriculum.
These courses are:
MATH 124, 125, 126 (one year of college calculus)
PHYS 121,122,123 (one year of calculus-based physics), This sequence to be started
after the student has taken MATH 124, usually while the student is in MATH 125.
Other required courses which are recommended before beginning the atmospheric
sciences curriculum are:
CSE 142 (basic programming course)
STAT 311 (basic statistics course, may be taken while in program)
Core Courses
The atmospheric science major allows flexibility of course planning by providing several
choices in career direction. However, all students must begin by taking a collection of
core courses that provide essential material that all atmospheric scientists should master.
A grade of at least 2.0 is required in the core courses, with an overall GPA of at least
2.5.These courses are:
* CSE 142 (4): Introduction to Programming
* MATH 124, 125, 126 (5,5,5); (or equiv.); 324 (3) Calculus
* AMATH 301 (3): Introduction to MATLAB
* AMATH 351, 353 (3,3) Differential Equations
* PHYS 121,122, 123 (5,5,5): One year of calculus-based Physics
* ATM S 301 (5): Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
* ATM S 321 (3): Physical Climatology
* ATM S 340 (5): Introduction to Thermodynamics and Cloud Processes
* ATM S 358 (3): Fundamentals of Atmospheric Chemistry
* ATM S 370 (5): Atmospheric Structure and Analysis
* ATM S 431 (5): Atmospheric Physics
* ATM S 441 (3): Atmospheric Motions
Once the core courses are completed, a student will select additional upper-division
courses, for a minimum of 19 credits of coursework at the 200 level or above. These
credits should be chosen to provide a coherent, customized program that reflects the
student's interests and career goals. Elective selections must be approved in advance by
the department. A grade of at least 2.0 is required for all elective classes that are applied
to graduation requirements.
Track 1: Atmosphere and the Environment
This track is intended for students interested in environmental applications of the
atmospheric sciences, including air quality, atmospheric chemistry, human health, and
hydrology. Students should consider supplementing this track with classes in the
Program on the Environment. <more>
Track 2: Meteorology
This track provides students with a strong background in dynamics, synoptic meteorology
and weather forecasting, and provides the coursework required for entry into the National
Weather Service, military forecasting careers or graduate school. <more>
Track 3: Atmosphere and Ocean
For those interested in both atmosphere and the ocean, or in the interactions between
these systems. <more>
Track 4: Teacher Education Focus
This track combines atmospheric sciences classes with coursework in education to
prepare students for careers in primary and secondary teaching. A student interested in
this focus should consult with the atmospheric sciences adviser to select further
coursework. <more>
Programs and requirements for honors students will be arranged on an individual basis. It
is possible to earn teacher certification with one further year of study.
Suggested Two Year Plan for Majors
Most Atmospheric Sciences majors take their major courses during the junior and senior
years, although it is certainly possible to begin the major course work as a sophomore if
the prerequisites are met.Courses are offered only once per year, with the first course
beginning Autumn Quarter. It is crucial that courses are taken in the recommended
sequence.
Below is a suggested two year plan for the junior and senior years.This plan assumes the
Meteorology option:
Autumn
Winter
Spring
ATM S 301(5)
AMATH 301 (3)
AMATH 351 (3)
YEAR 2:
ATM S 431 (5)
ATM S 441 (3)
STAT 311 (5)
ATM S 340 (5)
ATM S 370 (5)
AMATH 353 (3)
ATM S 321 (3)
ATM S 358 (3)
MATH 324 (3)
ATM S 442 (5)
ATM S 451 (5)
ATM S 452 (5)
Research and Internship Opportunities
Internships provide a valuable opportunity to explore interests in potential meteorological
career paths and to extend knowledge through real-life experiences. Internships with
various National Weather Service Forecast Offices (such as Seattle and Portland) as well
as with local TV stations, have proven to be very popular. [Students may earn academic
credit for internships, which sometimes provide a stipend]. Several of our students have
begun successful careers in TV weathercasting in this manner, and many successfully
entered the National Weather Service by interning.
Other internships in the past few years have been at the U.S. Forest Service, the
Northwest Avalanche Center, and the Pacific Marine Environmental Lab, as well as
environmentally oriented labs or businesses.
Many of our majors also participate in departmental research projects, learning while
making important contributions to the research, sometimes with a stipend. In addition,
majors often participate in field programs. Recently, a number of undergraduates flew on
the NOAA P3 aircraft (the 'Hurricane Hunter') during a study of precipitation processes
over the Oregon Cascades (IMPROVE-2).
Opportunities for Educational Enhancement
Learning possibilities for Atmospheric Sciences majors don't end in the classroom. Each
week there are several seminars or talks on a variety of topics, and undergraduates are
welcome to attend all. Some opportunities include:
*
Department Seminars and Colloquia. Each week there is a department colloquium,
generally on a topic of general interest. Prior to the colloquium, refreshments are served
and students and faculty gather in an informal setting. In addition, there are a number of
weekly seminars with a more specialized focus.
*
Weekly weather discussion. Every Tuesday at 12:30 PM a member of the department
gives a weather discussion on current conditions or on a topic of individual choice.
*
Northwest Weather Workshop. Each year the UW cosponsors a gathering of
approximately 150 regional meteorologists on the latest advances in Northwest
meteorology and weather forecasting. The first day of the meeting generally has a theme,
such as aviation or hydrometeorology.
*
Student AMS Chapter. Majors in the department regularly meet as a student chapter
of the American Meteorological Society
*
Puget Sound AMS Chapter. Monthly meetings, including a talk and refreshments, of
the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Meteorological Society are popular with
students.
*
Participation in Annual Department Forecast Contest. Prizes are awarded.
Departmental Scholarships
Scholarships to pay tuition and/or other expenses are awarded each year from The Bruce
Caldwell Memorial Scholarship as well as from The Richard J. and Joan M. Reed
Endowed Scholarship Fund. These scholarships are available once a student has begun
the Atmospheric Sciences course sequence; however, we also award scholarship
incentives to promising high school students who are considering the University of
Washington and the Atmospheric Sciences Department.
The Atmospheric Sciences Minor Program
The atmospheric sciences Minor is suited for any student interested in the program who
wishes to acquire more knowledge about the atmosphere and the environment.
The Atmospheric Sciences minor is open to all students who have earned 90 or more
credits. The prerequisites for the minor are MATH 124, 125 and 126; PHYS 121, 122,
and 123.
After completing the prerequisites, a student wishing to minor in atmospheric sciences
should take ATM S 301 plus other approved courses to equal a total of not less than 25
credits. Independent study credits may be used, up to a maximum of 6, as part of the 25
required credits. Consultation with the department on the selection of courses is
recommended
Career Paths
Graduates of the UW Atmospheric Sciences undergraduate program have begun careers
in a number of areas, including:
*
National Weather Service Forecaster
*
TV Meteorologist
*
U.S. Air Force Weather Officer
*
Graduate Student
*
Military or Commercial Aviator
*
Air Quality Meteorologist
*
Environmental Consultant
Contact Information
Our advising office is located in Room 402 ATG. Email for an appointment, or just stop
by anytime.
Advise@atmos.washington.edu
Phone:(206) 543 4576
Room 402 ATG Building
Box 351640
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
Professor Cliff Mass,
Undergraduate Advisor
Samantha Scherer,
Counseling Services Coordinator
Northwest Weather
The Pacific Northwest provides almost every time of weather from the moist , marine
environment of the lowlands, the snowy mountain climates of the Cascades and
Olympics, to the deserts of eastern Washington and Oregon. The result is a wide range of
active weather that keeps our undergraduates well engaged in the their study of
meteorology, including:
1. Strong cyclones moving off the eastern Pacific that can produce strong winds during
the winter that can exceed hurricane strength. In fact, the strongest extratropical cyclone
on record... the Columbus Day Storm of 1962... brought winds exceeding 150 mph to
coastal Oregon and Washington!
The Columbus Day Cyclone caused massive poweroutages and other damage around the
Pacific Northwest.
2. A varied collection of mountain weather produced by the substantial terrain of the
region, including very heavy mountain snows, windward precipitation maxima, lee rain
shadows, downslope wind storms, and the Puget Sound convergence zone over Puget
Sound. The world record annual snowfall record is help by Washington's Mount Baker
ski area!
Mountains snows are sometime so heavy that the main east-west highways are
occasionally closed.
3. Summertime thunderstorms over the mountains and eastern Washington.
4. Onshore marine pushes and strong diurnal winds during the late spring and summer.
Closely Related Departments and Programs
Students in the UW Atmospheric Sciences program can take advantage of a collection of
very strong programs in related fields, such as Oceanography, Earth and Space Sciences,
and the Programs on the Environment and Climate Change. A partial list of these
programs with links to their websites are below:
* School of Oceanography
* College of Engineering
and with the Departments of:
* Applied Mathematics
* Astronomy
* Chemistry
* Mathematics
* Earth and Space Sciences
* Physics
* Environmental Health
And with other units such as:
* Program on the Environment
* Program on Climate Change
* Astrobiology Program.