The development and use of computer-based models to simulate the behavior of the Earth's atmosphere, including its interactions with the oceans, land, and biosphere.
The Earth's atmosphere: This topic covers the structure and composition of the Earth's atmosphere, including its layers, gases, and physical properties.
Atmospheric dynamics: This topic deals with the movement of the atmosphere, including the behavior of air masses, atmospheric circulation patterns, and the effects of global wind patterns.
Radiative transfer: This topic explores the transfer of energy between the atmosphere and the Earth's surface, including the interaction of radiation with atmospheric gases, clouds, and other objects.
Cloud physics: This topic covers the formation and behavior of clouds, including their impact on weather patterns and climate.
Atmospheric chemistry: This topic examines the chemical composition of the atmosphere, including the sources and sinks of various gases, and their effects on air quality and climate.
Weather forecasting: This topic focuses on predicting the weather using atmospheric models, including the use of numerical weather prediction models.
Climate modeling: This topic involves the use of computer models to simulate the Earth's climate and predict future changes, including the impact of greenhouse gases and other factors on global warming.
Atmospheric data analysis: This topic covers the use of statistical methods and data visualization techniques to analyze atmospheric data, including measurements of temperature, humidity, and other variables.
Remote sensing: This topic involves using satellite and other remote sensing technologies to collect data on the Earth's atmosphere, including measurements of atmospheric temperature, moisture, and composition.
Air pollution: This topic explores the sources, factors, and effects of air pollution, including the impact of human activities on the Earth's atmosphere and climate.
Global Climate Models (GCMs): Numerical models of the Earth's climate system that simulate the interactions between the atmosphere, land surface, oceans, and ice.
Regional Climate Models (RCMs): Specific models designed to simulate the climate of a particular region, typically at a higher resolution than a GCM.
Weather Forecast Models (WRF): Numerical models that predict weather conditions in the near future by simulating the dynamics of the atmosphere and incorporating observational data.
Chemical Transport Models (CTMs): Models that simulate atmospheric chemical processes and transport of pollutants, including atmospheric reactions, dispersion, and deposition.
Photochemical Models: Models that specifically focus on atmospheric photochemistry, including the formation and transformation of ozone, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants.
Aerosol models: Models that simulate the distribution and behavior of airborne particles, including their impact on visibility, climate, and human health.
Boundary Layer Models: Models that simulate the lowest layer of the atmosphere, which interacts directly with the Earth's surface, including the effects of turbulence, surface fluxes, and atmospheric stability.
Radiative Transfer Models (RTMs): Models that simulate the transfer of electromagnetic radiation through the atmosphere, including absorption, scattering, and emission processes.
Data Assimilation Models (DA): Models that incorporate observational data from satellites, radars, and ground-based measurements, to improve the accuracy of weather and climate models.
Gaseous Pollutants Models: Models that specifically focus on atmospheric concentrations of gaseous pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
Cloud Models: Models that simulate the formation, dissipation, and behavior of clouds, including their impact on weather, climate, and atmospheric chemistry.
Mesoscale Models: Models that simulate atmospheric processes on a scale larger than the boundary layer but smaller than a regional scale, including the dynamics of convective clouds, frontal systems, and storms.
Inverse Models: Models used to estimate the sources and sinks of atmospheric pollutants based on atmospheric measurements, including inverse modeling of carbon dioxide emissions.
Climate Impact Models: Models used to assess the impacts of climate change on various sectors, such as agriculture, water resources, and human health.
Environmental Dispersion Models: Models that simulate the behavior of pollutants released from point or area sources and their dispersion in the atmosphere, including models used in emergency response planning.