2025-2026 UH Mānoa Catalog
Department of Atmospheric Sciences
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 Return to: School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology
HIG 350
2525 Correa Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8775
Fax: (808) 956-2877
Email: metdept@hawaii.edu
Web: soest.hawaii.edu/atmo
Faculty
*J. D. S. Griswold, PhD (Chair) (Undergraduate Lead Advisor)—satellite remote sensing of clouds and aerosol, cloud microphysics, aerosols and climate meteorology
*F. F. Jin, PhD (Graduate Chair)—atmospheric dynamics, climate dynamics
*C. Karamperidou, PhD (Associate Chair, Undergraduate Advisor, and Director of the BAM Pathway)—climate dynamics and modeling, interannual and decadal climate variability; paleoclimate
*S. Businger, PhD—mesoscale and synoptic meteorology, satellite meteorology, storm structure and dynamics
*Y. L. Chen, PhD—mesoscale meteorology, heavy rainfall
*P. S. Chu, PhD—climate variability and natural hazards, tropical cyclones, climate prediction
*T. Li, PhD—climate and atmospheric dynamics, tropical meteorology, atmosphere-ocean interactions
*A. D. Nugent, PhD (Undergraduate Advisor)—mountain meteorology, cloud physics, cloud microphysics
H. Sun, PhD—aerosol-cloud interactions, stratospheric dynamics and aerosols, solar geoengineering, renewable energies
*G. Torri, PhD—atmospheric physics, cloud dynamics, extreme weather, wildfires, space weather
*Y. Wang, PhD—atmospheric dynamics and physics, climate modeling, tropical meteorology
*J. Zhao, PhD—atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
Affiliate Graduate Faculty
*Cherubini, Tiziana, PhD—very high resolution numerical weather prediction modeling and meteorological data assimilation
*B. Wang, PhD (Emeritus)—climate dynamics, geophysical fluid dynamics, and tropical meteorology
*Graduate Faculty
The Academic Program
Atmospheric Sciences (ATMO) is the study of phenomena in the Earth’s atmosphere and other planetary atmospheres in the solar system. These phenomena include both weather and climate. Students pursuing the BS receive preparation for professional employment in the atmospheric sciences and are qualified for employment in the federal meteorological agencies. The atmospheric sciences major must be well-grounded in the fundamentals of mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Thus BS graduates are qualified to pursue graduate studies both in atmospheric sciences and other applied sciences, such as oceanography or geography. Graduate degrees prepare students to pursue research careers both with government and in academia.
The atmospheric sciences program at UH Mānoa is unique in its focus on tropical meteorology. The tropics exert critical controls on the entire global atmosphere. BS students receive comprehensive training in tropical weather analysis and forecasting. Graduate students often pursue their research in tropical meteorology; some of their study topics take advantage of Hawaiʻi’s unique natural laboratory. Some students pursue graduate research with funding from the National Weather Service, whose Honolulu Weather Forecast Office is housed in the same building as the atmospheric sciences department. Atmospheric sciences faculty cooperate actively with physical oceanography faculty through the Joint Institute for Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research and the International Pacific Research Center in the study of air-sea interaction and climate variability. Students also have access to both research databases and cooperative employment opportunities at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Pearl Harbor.
Affiliations
UH Mānoa is an active member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
Advising
Undergraduate students contemplating a major or minor should contact the SOEST Student Academic Services (SAS) in HIG 131B (808) 956-8763. You can also inquire about the major by contacting the department office (808) 956-8775. Graduate students are assigned individual faculty advisors by the graduate chair after their preliminary conference.
Undergraduate Study
Bachelor’s Degree
Please see “Programs” section below for more information about requirements for this program.
Student Learning Outcomes (BS Atmospheric Sciences)
- Demonstrate integrated understanding of the fundamental physical and dynamical processes governing the atmosphere across spatial and temporal scales;
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected Earth system (solid earth, atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere);
- Utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic, prognostic, and technological frameworks including models, instrumentation, and remote sensing data to analyze and interpret atmospheric processes;
- Develop and apply critical thinking to solve problems in the atmospheric sciences in both individual and collaborative settings;
- Effectively communicate scientific information to the general public and the scientific community in both oral and written form;
- Adopt the principles of proper ethical behavior and understand the broader impacts of the atmospheric sciences on society;
- Synthesize and apply knowledge within the atmospheric sciences or across disciplines through a capstone experience or in-depth course projects or portfolio;
- Demonstrate expertise in tropical weather and climate and communicate effectively the importance of tropical atmospheric processes to global weather and climate phenomena;
- Embrace a scientific leadership role and become ambassadors for weather and climate issues impacting the communities and peoples of the greater Pacific region (employment statistics-public, private, academic, etc.).
Minor
Please see “Programs” section below for more information about this program.
Graduate Study
The department offers MS and PhD degrees. Through courses in dynamic, synoptic, and physical meteorology, students develop a strong foundation in tropical meteorology, the department’s special field, and are prepared to do research in the atmospheric sciences.
Candidates should have a thorough preparation in physics (with calculus), chemistry, and mathematics through differential equations. Undergraduate courses in physical, dynamic, and synoptic meteorology are expected, but they can be taken in the first year. Deadlines to submit applications for admission to the graduate programs are December 15 for fall semester admission and August 15 for spring semester admission. In special circumstances, late applications for either semester will be considered.
ProgramsBachelor’sMaster’sDoctorateMinorCombined
Return to: School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology
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