Chemical & Physical Oceanography

oceans

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Overview

The oceans cover approximately 71% of the earth’s surface, and play a critical role in global climate through storage and transport of heat and carbon dioxide.  Interactions between the ocean and atmosphere are responsible for global phenomena such as El Niño. Understanding ocean circulation and chemistry is crucial for understanding climate variability and prediction.  Changes in ocean physics and chemistry also directly impact natural hazards and resources such as coastal flooding and food availability. ATOC faculty, graduate students, and research staff work together on a wide range of oceanographic research topics: large-scale dynamics; small-scale turbulence, air-sea interaction; carbon cycling and biogeochemistry; remote sensing of the ocean; ocean-ice interactions: and coastal processes. ATOC offers a Master’s and Ph.D. degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.  Students wishing to specialize in the Oceanography track will enroll in courses that satisfy the core curriculum requirements. ATOC also offers a Graduate Level Certificate in Oceanography.

Core faculty

Other researchers

  • Mark J. Ablowitz, Department of Applied Mathematics
  • , NOAA
  • , INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences
  • , NOAA
  • , NCAR
  • , NOAA
  • , NOAA
  • William Emery, CCAR and Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • , ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥
  • Albin J. Gasiewski, CET and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Peter Hamlington, Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences
  • Keith Julien, Department of Applied Mathematics
  • Lakshmi Kantha, CCAR and Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • , NOAA
  • , INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences
  • , NCAR
  • , NCAR
  • Tom Marchitto, INSTAAR and Department of Geological Sciences
  • ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥
  • Steve Nerem, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, CCAR, and Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
  • NOAA
  • Lev Ostrovsky, Department of Applied Mathematics
  • , NOAA
  • , ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥
  • Harvey Segur, Department of Applied Mathematics
  • De-Zheng Sun, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
  • , ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥
  • , NOAA
  • , NOAA

Relevant courses

  • ATOC 3070. Introduction to Oceanography
  • ATOC 4215/5215 Descriptive Physical Oceanography
  • ATOC 4730/5730 Physical Oceanography and Climate
  • ATOC 5051 Introduction to Physical Oceanography
  • ATOC 5061 Advanced Ocean Dynamics
  • ATOC 5300 The Global Carbon Cycle

Other resources

  • NCAR Climate and Global Dynamics Division’sÂ