Climate Dynamics
Phone: 301-595-7000
Web: clim.gmu.edu
Faculty
Professors:Schneider, Schopf, Shukla (chair), Straus
Associate professors: DelSole, Houser, Huang, Kinter, Kirtman, Klinger
Contract professor: Krishnamurthy
Guest lecturers: Dirmeyer, Koster, Sud
Course Work
The department offers all course work designated CLIM in the “Course Descriptions” chapter of this catalog.
Graduate Programs
Climate Dynamics, PhD
The mission of this program is to train the next generation of world leaders in the science of climate dynamics. While there is no unambiguous definition of “climate,” climate dynamics is generally considered to encompass processes that determine the behavior of the atmosphere, land, and oceans averaged over time scales of weeks to centuries and millennia. Understanding climate variability and predictability poses difficult mathematical, computational, and observational questions that have generated increasing intellectual excitement in recent years.
Because atmospheric behavior is strongly coupled to the oceans and land surface, physical oceanography and land surface physics can also be considered part of the science of climate dynamics. Understanding climate variability has important ramifications for society, from planning for next year’s electrical demand and forecasting agricultural production to answering complex questions involving long-term global change. While it is thought to be theoretically impossible to predict day-to-day weather more than a few weeks in advance, recent progress in predicting El Niño supports the idea that seasonal averages of temperature, rainfall, and other factors may be at least partly predictable months or even years in advance.
The climate dynamics faculty is varied and consists of a blend of expertise in dynamics, statistics, and computational methods while covering the traditional areas of atmospheric dynamics, physical and dynamical oceanography, land surface physics, and hydrology. The faculty and students involved in the program work closely with scientists at the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA) and the Center for Research on Environment and Water (CREW), utilizing common models, datasets, and computational facilities.
Faculty research focuses on the areas of climate prediction and predictability; climate variability; coupled ocean- atmosphere-land dynamics; and dynamical systems and retrospective analysis. Recent research topics include predictability of weather and climate; modeling of the complex climate system; El Niño dynamics; deforestation, desertification, and monsoons; atmosphere-ocean interaction; land-climate interaction; decadal climate variability; ocean circulation theory; abrupt climate change; and water and energy cycle dynamics.
External research collaborations exist with federal agencies, private corporations, and other universities, exemplifying the commitment of COS and the university to the development of effective regional and national collaborations. The faculty is heavily involved with national and international climate science efforts, providing students with the opportunity for participation in research.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should have demonstrated high aptitude for quantitative reasoning, applied mathematics, and physical science. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, with a GPA of at least 3.00 in undergraduate work and a combined GRE score of 1100 (verbal plus quantitative). To apply, prospective students should forward a completed Mason graduate application, two copies of official transcripts from each college and graduate institution attended, a current resume, and an expanded goals statement to the COS Fairfax Campus Graduate Admissions Processing Center. Applicants should also include three letters of recommendation, and an official report of scores obtained on the GRE-GEN exam. The GRE-SUB is recommended if it is given in the student’s undergraduate major. The GRE requirement for admission to the doctoral programs will be waived if the student holds a master’s degree from a U.S. institution. TOEFL scores are required for all international applicants.
Degree Requirements
The program requires 72 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, with a minimum of 48 credits in course work, and 24 credits of dissertation research. For those holding master’s degrees, the required 48 credits may be reduced by up to 30 credits, depending on graduate courses completed. The degree will be awarded upon completion of the required course work and approval of a PhD thesis that makes an original and significant contribution to the field.
The 48-credit curriculum requirement is divided into four areas: 12 credits of fundamental climate science courses; 9 credits of core computational methods; 3 credits of seminar; and a minimum of 24 credits of electives. The course work is organized as follows:
- Fundamental climate science courses: CLIM 710, 711, 712, 714
- Core computational courses: CSI 700 and 701, and CLIM 715
- Climate seminar: 3 credits of CSI 991
- 24 credits of electives, including up to 5 credits of independent research
After completing the fundamental climate science courses, students take a two-part qualifying exam that includes core and specialty components. The core component is administered by an Examination Committee. After successfully completing the core component, students take the specialty component, which is administered by the dissertation committee that students typically form by the spring semester of their second year. Following successful completion of both parts of the qualifying exam, students present a written dissertation proposal to the committee. Students may enroll in CLIM 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal to complete this effort. After approval of the dissertation proposal, students are formally advanced to doctoral candidacy, and they produce the dissertation while taking CLIM 999. The degree will be awarded upon completion of the required course work and approval of a PhD thesis that makes an original and significant contribution to the field.