Approved Courses
The following list includes undergraduate courses that have been approved as of June 2010. Courses added after that date do not appear in this list. Courses eliminated after that date may still appear. Not every course is offered regularly. Students should consult the Schedule of Classes at www.testudo.umd.edu to ascertain which courses are actually offered during a given semester.
COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM
| Number |
|
Eligibility |
| 000-099 |
|
Non-credit course |
| 100-199 |
|
Primarily freshman course |
| 200-299 |
|
Primarily sophomore course |
| 300-399 |
|
Junior, senior course not acceptable for credit toward graduate degrees |
| 386-387 |
|
Campus-wide internship courses; refer to information describing Experiential Learning |
| 400-499 |
|
Junior, senior course acceptable for credit toward some graduate degree |
| 500-599 |
|
Professional School course (Dentistry, Architecture, Law, Medicine) or post-baccalaureate course |
| 600-899 |
|
Course restricted to graduate students |
| 799 |
|
Master Thesis credit |
| 899 |
|
Doctoral Dissertation credit |
Use the search box below to view the approved courses.
Courses in "AOSC-Atmospheric and Oceanic Science"
AOSC - Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
AOSC 123 Causes and Implications of Global Change (3)
Also offered as: GEOG123, GEOL123. Credit only granted for: AOSC123,
GEOG123, GEOL123, or METO123. Formerly: METO123.
This course offers a unique experience in integrating physical,
chemical, geological and biological sciences with geographical,
economic, sociological and political knowledge skills toward a better
understanding of global change. Review of environmental science
relating to weather and climate change, acid precipitation, ozone
holes, global warming and impacts on biology, agriculture and human
behavior. Study of the natural, long-term variability of the global
environment, and what influence mankind may have in perturbing it from
its natural evolution. Concepts of how physical, biological and human
behavioral systems interact, and the repercussions which may follow
from human endeavors. The manner in which to approach decision and
policy making related to issues of global change.
AOSC 200 Weather and Climate (3)
Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion/recitation per week.
Prerequisite: MATH110 or MATH115. Recommended: Concurrent enrollment in
AOSC201. Formerly: METO200.
Broad survey of the state of knowledge and problems of atmospheric
science. Origin and structure of the atmosphere, meteorological
observations, weather maps, forecasting, satellites, energetics, wind,
general circulation, storms, severe weather, climate change, air
pollution.
AOSC 201 Weather and Climate Laboratory (1)
Two hours of laboratory per week. Corequisite: Concurrently enrolled in
AOSC200. Formerly: METO201.
Laboratory exercises to supplement AOSC200, including weather
observations, weather map analysis, use of the Internet, forecasting
practice and climate modeling.
AOSC 346 Cycles in the Earth System (3)
Prerequisite: GEOG123, AOSC123, GEOL123, or MATH140; or permission of
CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic Science department. Recommended: PHYS171,
PHYS141, PHYS161, or MATH141. Also offered as: GEOG346, GEOL346.
The Earth System operates through some fundamental cycles such as
water, energy, and the carbon cycles. This course will build on
GEOL/GEOG/AOSC123 starting with concept of feedbacks within the Earth
System, global energy balance and the Greenhouse Effect. A brief
introduction to the atmospheric and oceanic circulation will lead to
the water cycle connecting the land, ocean, and atmosphere to the Earth
System. Introduction to the Global carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles
will be followed by the concept of long-term climate regulation and
short-term climate variability. The concepts of cycles, feedbacks,
forcings, and responses in the Earth System will be applied to Global
Warming and Ozone Depletion.
AOSC 375 Introduction to the Blue Ocean (3)
Also offered as: GEOL375. Credit only granted for: GEOL375 or METO375.
Introduction to physical, chemical, and biological properties of the
ocean. Role of the ocean in climate as a component of the Earth system.
El Nino and the ocean, imipact of global warming on the ocean and marine
habitats including fisheries.
AOSC 386 Experiential Learning (3-6)
Restriction: Junior standing or higher; and Must have a learning
proposal approved by the Office of Experiential Learning Programs,
faculty sponsor and student's internship sponsor. Formerly: METO386.
AOSC 400 Physical Meteorology of the Atmosphere (3)
Prerequisite: 1 course with a minimum grade of C- from (PHYS171,
PHYS161, MATH141); or permission of CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic Science
department. Formerly: METO400.
The application of basic classical physics, chemistry and mathematics to
the study of the atmosphere. Composition of the atmosphere; energy
sources and sinks (radiation in the atmosphere; radiative balance and
radiative forcing of atmospheric processes); atmospheric
thermodynamics; clouds and precipitation physics; atmospheric
electricity and optics; mesoscale processes (e.g., orographic mesoscale
phenomena and instabilities); airmass boundaries; severe weather,
tropical cyclones; storms; global circulation.
AOSC 401 Climate Dynamics and Earth System Science (3)
Prerequisite: AOSC400 or AOSC200; or permission of instructor. Formerly:
METO401.
The global weather and climate system; the natural variability of the
atmosphere-ocean-biosphere; carbon cycle and biogeochemistry. Potential
human effects: greenhouse effects, deforestation, acid rain, ozone
depletion, nuclear winter. Social, political and economic effects of
changes in global environment. Policy options.
AOSC 424 Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean (3)
Prerequisite: 1 course with a minimum grade of C- from (PHYS171,
PHYS161, MATH141); or permission of instructor.
Many of the properties of the atmosphere, ocean, and land surface are
most easily observed from satellite remote sensing. This course will
provide students with a hands-on introduction to a variety of passive
and active sensing techniques and sensors observing our changing
environment. Topics include: orbital dynamics and electromagnetic
properties of the atmosphere and surface; atmospheric emission
characteristics and scattering; chemical composition and spectroscopy;
temperature retrievals; detection and retrieval of aerosol, cloud and
rain; ocean surface properties; sea surface temperature and color;
active sensing of wind stress, sea level, and internal waves;
time-dependent gravity; properties of vegetation and ice.
AOSC 431 Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3)
Prerequisite: 1 course with a minimum grade of C- from (PHYS171,
PHYS161, MATH141). Recommended: MATH246. Credit only granted for:
AOSC431 or METO431. Formerly: METO431.
Classical thermodynamics applied to both the dry and the moist
atmosphere. Composition; phase changes of water; stability concepts;
Properties of aerosols and clouds, cloud nucleation and precipitation
processes, atmospheric electricity, cloud and precipitation chemistry.
AOSC 432 Large Scale Atmospheric Dynamics (3)
Prerequisite: AOSC431. Corequisite: Concurrently enrolled in MATH246.
Credit only granted for: AOSC432, METO432, or AOSC632. Formerly:
METO432.
The physics of the atmospheric motions that control mid-latitude
weather; physics of hurricanes; mathematics of climate change.
AOSC 433 Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM131, CHEM135, or CHEM146. And MATH241; or permission
of CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic Science department. Also offered as:
CHEM433. Credit only granted for: AOSC433, AOSC633, CHEM433, or CHEM633.
Formerly: AOSC434.
The effects of human activity on atmospheric composition, focused on
global warming, the carbon cycle, air pollution, and the ozone layer.
Fundamentals of atmosphereic chemistry (spectroscopy, kinetics, isotopic
analysis, and biogeochemical cycles) are related to the modern
understanding of climate change, air quality, and ozone depletion, based
on resources such as satellite missions, field campaigns, and scientific
assessments published by international agencies. We also examine how
society's energy needs could be met, in the future, in a manner with
less impact on atmospheric composition than the present heavy reliance
on combusion of fossil fuels.
AOSC 434 Air Pollution (3)
Prerequisite: MATH241; or permission of CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic
Science department. Formerly: METO434.
Production, transformation, transport and removal of air pollutants.
The problems of photochemical smog, the greenhouse effect,
stratospheric ozone, acid rain and visibility. Analytical techniques
for gases and particles.
AOSC 470 Synoptic Meteorology (3)
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C- in AOSC431 and AOSC432. Credit only
granted for: AOSC470, AOSC600, or METO600.
Atmospheric properties and observations, meteorological analysis and
charts, operational numerical forecasts. Application of quasigeostrophic
theory, baroclinic instability, midlatitiude and mesoscale weather
systems. Tropical meteorology. Weather forecasting using numerical and
statistical models. Prediction of weather phenomena on the global,
syoptic, meso, and local scales. Analysis of surface and upper air data;
Norwegian cyclone model; introduction to weather forecasting.
AOSC 493 Senior Research Project I (3)
Prerequisite: Permission of CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic Science
department. Restriction: Must be in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science
program. Or must not be in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science program; and
permission of instructor.
Technical writing and oral presentation skills. Planning, writing, and
presenting a plan for research in the geosciences.
AOSC 494 Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Seminar (1)
Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C- in AOSC431 and AOSC432.
Exposure to a wide range of contemporary topics in atmospheric, oceanic,
and climate sciences, to foster research interests and promote critical
thinking through the weekly AOSC departmental seminar series.
AOSC 498 Senior Research Project II (3)
Prerequisite: AOSC493.
The project will be based on the research or development plan created in
AOSC493. It may be completed with the approval of a faculty advisor in
conjunction with an internship. Final written thesis and oral defense
will be expected.
AOSC 499 Special Problems in Atmospheric Science (1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of CMNS-Atmospheric & Oceanic Science
department. Repeatable to 6 credits. Formerly: METO499.
Research or special study in the field of meteorology and the
atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
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