Who We Are

Since 1948 we have grown into one of the leading departments in our field of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. We have strong graduate and undergraduate programs which are nationally recognized. We graduate about 15 Ph.D. and M.S. students each year; our graduates are active in research labs and universities around the world. We graduate approximately 20 B.S. students each year; they choose options allowing a focus on weather systems or general atmospheric science.

Our faculty of 17 has long maintained breadth and special strength in three areas:

Climate systems, including the ocean
Satellite and remote sensing
Weather systems, including synoptic-dynamic meteorology

We pursue research with a combination of theory, modeling, and diagnostic studies. We support this work with a foundation of first-year graduate core courses, and an appealing range of electives for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Many other excellent course opportunities are found in more than a dozen related science departments on our campus. Within our own 15 story building, we collaborate closely with research groups on satellite/remote sensing and climate systems. These include the Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC), the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS), the Center for Climate Research (CCR), and the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE). The department is home to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office. Our students find personal support through a variety of means, from social to sports to campus family housing, and enjoy "the good life" in the wonderful city of Madison.