Current Course Rotation

Among our major-level course offerings, we offer three courses once per year: Atm Sci 101 (fall), Atm Sci 240 (spring), and Atm Sci 250 (spring). Apart from these courses, our major-level courses are typically offered once every two years, as detailed below. This rotation is subject to change, and current and prospective undergraduate students are encouraged to contact the Atmospheric Science Program Chair with any questions regarding specific course availability.

Courses Offered

ATM SCI 100 Survey of Meteorology

3 cr. Undergraduate.
Concepts and principles of meteorology; cyclones, fronts, thunderstorms, tornadoes, air pollution, and climate. Interpretation of weather maps, charts, and forecasts. 2 hrs lec, 2 hrs lab-dis.

Prerequisites: none.

General Education Requirements: NS+

ATM SCI 109 Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes

3 cr. Undergraduate.
The study of basic processes that lead to dry and moist convection. Characteristic atmospheric structure and cloud microphysical processes that produce thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes.

Prerequisites: none.

General Education Requirements: NS

ATM SCI 110 The Origin, Composition, and Structure of the Planetary Atmospheres

3 cr. Undergraduate.
Origin of the solar system, its planets, and planetary atmospheres.

Prerequisites: none.

General Education Requirements: NS

ATM SCI 194 First-Year Seminar:

3 cr. Undergraduate.
Specific topics are announced in the Schedule of Classes each time the class is offered.

Prerequisites: none.

General Education Requirements: NS

Course Rules: Open only to freshmen. Students may earn cr in just one first-year seminar course.

ATM SCI 199 Independent Study

1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
For further information, consult dept chair.

Prerequisites: 2.0 GPA; consent of instructor, department chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.

Course Rules: May be retaken to 6 cr max.

ATM SCI 240 Introduction to Meteorology

4 cr. Undergraduate.
Quantitative approach to understanding fundamental concepts in meteorology. Radiation, heat balance of the atmosphere, thermodynamics, horizontal motion, general circulation, atmospheric observations, clouds, weather map analysis.

Prerequisites: Physics 209(P) & 214(P); Math 232(C).

ATM SCI 250 Introduction to Climate Science

4 cr. Undergraduate.
Fundamentals of climate system’s inner workings and analysis methods. Climate subsystems and feedbacks, energy balance of the Earth, climates of the past, global warming, internal variability and predictability of climate, dynamical climate models, statistical approaches.

Prerequisites: Physics 209(P) & 214(P); Comp Sci 202(P); Math 232(C).

ATM SCI 289 Internship in Atmospheric Sciences, Lower Division

1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of basic knowledge of Atmospheric Sciences in business, organizational, educational, political or other appropriate setting.

Prerequisites: soph st.; 2.50 gpa; cons supervising faculty member.

Course Rules: One cr earned for academic work based on 40 hrs in internship. May be retaken to 6 cr max.

ATM SCI 297 Study Abroad:

1-12 cr. Undergraduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared course work.

Prerequisites: acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.

General Education Requirements: NS

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.

ATM SCI 299 Ad Hoc:

1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept & assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add’l sem.

Prerequisites: none; add’l prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.

ATM SCI 330 Air-Pollution Meteorology

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Pollutant sources and sinks, fundamental pollutant chemistry, monitoring techniques, averaging boundary layers and turbulence, diffusion theories, diffusion models, regional and global-scale pollution problems.

Prerequisites: Atm Sci 240(P); Chem 102(P); stats course recom.

ATM SCI 350 Atmospheric Thermodynamics

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Radiant energy, sensible heat, and atmospheric thermodynamics; the gas laws; hydrostatic and psychrometric equations; dry and moist convection; clouds and their physical and energy relations. Optional field exercise.

Prerequisites: jr st; Physics 210(P); Math 232(P); Atm Sci 240(P).

ATM SCI 351 Dynamic Meteorology I

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
The role of dynamics in atmospheric physics; equations of motion; symmetric circulation models; gravity waves; Rossby waves, quasi-geostrophy; introduction to instability of atmospheric flows.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 240(P); Math 233(P).

ATM SCI 352 Dynamic Meteorology II

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Circulation, vorticity, potential vorticity; shallow water equations: Poincare, Kelvin, and Rossby waves, energy and enstrophy; quasi-geostrophy for a stratified atmosphere; barotropic and baroclinic instability.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 351(P); Math 234(P).

ATM SCI 360 Synoptic Meteorology I

4 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Fundamental principles; synoptic-scale structure and dynamics; equivalent barotropic model; vertical motions; introduction to and application of quasi-geostrophic theory.

Prerequisites: jr st; Math 232(P); Physics 210(P); Atm Sci 240(P).

Last Taught: Fall 2020, Fall 2018.

ATM SCI 361 Synoptic Meteorology II

4 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Extension of quasi-geostrophic theory to Q-vectors; isentropic potential vorticity applied to mid-latitude weather systems; fronts and jets.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 360(P).

ATM SCI 381 Honors Seminar:

3 cr. Undergraduate.
Selected topics.

Prerequisites: soph st; Honors 200(P); cons Honors College dir.

General Education Requirements: NS

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.

ATM SCI 460 Mesoscale Circulations

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Theory, analysis and forecasting of mesoscale flows, including convective systems, polar lows, terrain and surface-forced flows, jet streams and hurricanes.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 360(R) or cons instr.

ATM SCI 464 Physical Meteorology: Cloud Physics

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Formation of cloud droplets, droplet growth by condensation, formation of ice crystals, precipitation processes, weather radars, cloud models.

Prerequisites: jr st; Physics 210(P); Math 232(P); Atm Sci 350(P).

ATM SCI 470 Tropical Meteorology

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Dynamics and energetics of tropical circulations. Origins and evolution of equatorial disturbances and easterly waves. Structure and dynamics of tropical cyclones. Hurricane modeling and prediction.

Prerequisites: Atm Sci 351(P) or 360(P).

ATM SCI 480 The General Circulation and Climate Dynamics

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Historical overview, the zonally symmetric circulation, momentum, heat and water budgets, stationary waves, the El Nino Southern oscillation, global warming, interpentadal variability in the North Atlantic.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 351(P).

ATM SCI 497 Study Abroad:

1-12 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Designed to enroll students in UWM sponsored program before course work level, content, and credits are determined and/or in specially prepared course work.

Prerequisites: jr st; acceptance for Study Abroad Prog.

General Education Requirements: NS

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.

ATM SCI 499 Ad Hoc:

1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Course created expressly for offering in a specified enrollment period. Requires only dept & assoc dean approval. In exceptional circumstances, can be offered in one add’l sem.

Prerequisites: jr st; add’l prereqs may be assigned to specific topic.

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic.

ATM SCI 500 Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Mathematical and statistical tools applicable to the investigation of atmospheric problems; the nature and treatment of atmospheric data.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 240(P) or 350(P), & Math 232(P) or cons instr.

ATM SCI 505 Micrometeorology

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Surface energy budget; radiation balance and heat transfer; boundary-layer profiles of wind, temperature and moisture; turbulence and boundary-layer fluxes; evapotranspiration; special topics.

Prerequisites: jr st; Atm Sci 351(P) & 330(P).

ATM SCI 511 Seminar in Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Basic laws of radiation, absorption and scattering, weather radar, retrieval of soundings, remote sensing and climate, weather satellites.

Prerequisites: jr st; Math 232(P); Atm Sci 350(P) & Physics 210(P).

ATM SCI 599 Capstone Experience

1 cr. Undergraduate.
Student writes a paper under supervision of an advisor on an approved topic not covered in the student’s regular course work.

Prerequisites: sr st; cons instr.

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 2 cr max.

ATM SCI 600 Data Analytics

3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
overs techniques used to analyze data and test scientific hypotheses for both diagnostic/understanding and prognostic/prediction applications, particularly in the atmospheric and related sciences.

Prerequisites: junior standing, or graduate standing, or consent of instructor.

Course Rules: Counts as repeat of ATM SCI 690 with same topic.

ATM SCI 690 Seminar in Atmospheric Sciences:

1-3 cr. Undergraduate/Graduate.
Intensive topical studies of currently active problem areas.

Prerequisites: jr st; cons instr.

Course Rules: May be retaken w/chg in topic to 9 cr max.

ATM SCI 695 Internship in Atmospheric Sciences, Upper Division

1-6 cr. Undergraduate.
Application of advanced principles of atmospheric sciences in a business, organizational, educational, political or other appropriate setting.

Prerequisites: jr st; 300-level or above course in atm sci; 3.0 gpa in the major; consent of a supervising faculty member.

Course Rules: One cr earned for 40 hrs work. May be retaken to 6 cr max.

ATM SCI 699 Advanced Independent Reading

1-3 cr. Undergraduate.
Independent meteorological study.

Prerequisites: jr st, 2.0 GPA, consent of instructor, Department Chair, and Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services.

Course Rules: May be retaken with change in topic to 3 cr max.