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Program Requirements
Students can be admitted to the Honours program after completion of the U1 year of the Major in Atmospheric Science program with a minimum GPA of 3.30. Students having completed a U1 year in a different program with high standing may be admitted to the Honours program on the recommendation of that department.
A minimum GPA of 3.30 in the Honours program courses (taken as a whole) is required to remain in the program. A CGPA of 3.30 on the total program is also required to graduate with honours.
Required Courses (52 credits)
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ATOC 214 Introduction: Physics of the Atmosphere (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : An introduction to physical meteorology designed for students in the physical sciences. Topics include: composition of the atmosphere; heat transfer; the upper atmosphere; atmospheric optics; formation of clouds and precipitation; instability; adiabatic charts.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Huang, Yi (Fall)
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ATOC 215 Oceans, Weather and Climate (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Laws of motion, geostrophic wind, gradient wind. General circulation of the atmosphere and oceans, local circulation features. Air-sea interaction, including hurricanes and sea-ice formation, extra-tropical weather systems and fronts, role of the atmosphere and oceans in climate.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Yau, Man K (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: ATOC 214
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ATOC 309 Weather Radars and Satellites (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Basic notions of radiative transfer and applications of satellite and radar data to mesoscale and synoptic-scale systems are discussed. Emphasis will be put on the contribution of remote sensing to atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Fabry, Frederic; Szejwach, Gerard (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: ATOC 215
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ATOC 315 Thermodynamics and Convection (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Buoyancy, stability, and vertical oscillations. Dry and moist adiabatic processes. Resulting dry and precipitating convective circulations from the small scale to the global scale. Mesoscale precipitation systems from the cell to convective complexes. Severe convection, downbursts, mesocyclones.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Szejwach, Gerard (Fall)
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ATOC 480 Honours Research Project (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : The student will carry out a research project under the supervision of a member of the staff. The student will be expected to write a report and present a seminar on the work.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013
Instructors: Kirshbaum, Daniel (Winter)
Restriction: U3 Honours students
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ATOC 512 Atmospheric and Oceanic Dynamics (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Introduction to the fluid dynamics of large-scale flows of the atmosphere and oceans. Stratification of atmosphere and oceans. Equations of state, thermodynamics and momentum. Kinematics, circulation, and vorticity. Hydrostatic and quasi-geostrophic flows. Brief introduction to wave motions, flow over topography, Ekman boundary layers, turbulence.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Bartello, Peter (Fall)
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ATOC 531 Dynamics of Current Climates (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : The general circulation of the atmosphere and oceans. Atmospheric and oceanic general circulation models. Observations and models of the El Ni帽o and Southern Oscillation phenomena.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Lin, Hai (Winter)
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ATOC 540 Synoptic Meteorology 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Analysis of current meteorological data. Description of a geostrophic, hydrostatic atmosphere. Ageostrophic circulations and hydrostatic instabilities. Kinematic and thermodynamic methods of computing vertical motions. Tropical and extratropical condensation rates. Barotropic and equivalent barotropic atmospheres.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Atallah, Eyad Hashem (Fall)
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ATOC 546 Current Weather Discussion (1 credit)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Half-hour briefing on atmospheric general circulation and current weather around the world using satellite data, radar observations, conventional weather maps, and analyses and forecasts produced by computer techniques.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Atallah, Eyad Hashem (Winter)
Winter
2 hours
Prerequisite (Undergraduate): ATOC 540 or permission of instructor
Restriction: Graduate students and final-year Honours Atmospheric Science students. Others by special permission.
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COMP 208 Computers in Engineering (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to computer systems. Concepts and structures for high level programming. Elements of structured programming using FORTRAN 90 and C. Numerical algorithms such as root finding, numerical integration and differential equations. Non-numerical algorithms for sorting and searching.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013
Instructors: Friedman, Nathan; Pomerantz, Daniel (Fall) Friedman, Nathan (Winter)
3 hours
Prerequisite: differential and integral calculus.
Corequisite: linear algebra: determinants, vectors, matrix operations.
Restrictions: COMP 202 and COMP 208 cannot both be taken for credit. COMP 202 is intended as a general introductory course, while COMP 208 is intended for students interested in scientific computations. Credits for either of these courses will not count towards the 60-credit Major in Computer Science. COMP 208 cannot be taken for credit with or after COMP 250.
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MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013
Instructors: Jonsson, Wilbur; Rogers, Mathew (Fall) Jonsson, Wilbur; Canzani Garcia, Yaiza (Winter) Cormier, Eric (Summer)
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MATH 223 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of matrix algebra, determinants and systems of linear equations. Vector spaces, linear operators and their matrix representations, orthogonality. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of Hermitian matrices. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013
Instructors: El Hajj, Layan; Jonsson, Wilbur (Fall) Jonsson, Wilbur; Wu, Hehui (Winter)
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MATH 314 Advanced Calculus (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Derivative as a matrix. Chain rule. Implicit functions. Constrained maxima and minima. Jacobians. Multiple integration. Line and surface integrals. Theorems of Green, Stokes and Gauss. Fourier series with applications.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013
Instructors: Xu, Jian-Jun (Fall) Jonsson, Wilbur (Winter) Roth, Charles (Summer)
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MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order ordinary differential equations including elementary numerical methods. Linear differential equations. Laplace transforms. Series solutions.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013
Instructors: Xu, Jian-Jun (Fall) Eremin, Alexey (Winter) Makhmali, Omid (Summer)
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MATH 319 Introduction to Partial Differential Equations (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : First order equations, geometric theory; second order equations, classification; Laplace, wave and heat equations, Sturm-Liouville theory, Fourier series, boundary and initial value problems.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Feys, Jan (Winter)
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PHYS 230 Dynamics of Simple Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Translational motion under Newton's laws; forces, momentum, work/energy theorem. Special relativity; Lorentz transforms, relativistic mechanics, mass/energy equivalence. Topics in rotational dynamics. Noninertial frames.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Guo, Hong (Fall)
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PHYS 232 Heat and Waves (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : The laws of thermodynamics and their consequences. Thermodynamics of P-V-T systems and simple heat engines. Free, driven, and damped harmonic oscillators. Coupled systems and normal modes. Fourier methods. Wave motion and dispersion. The wave equation.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Ryan, Dominic (Winter)
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PHYS 257 Experimental Methods 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Introductory laboratory work and data analysis as related to mechanics, optics and thermodynamics. Introduction to computers as they are employed for laboratory work, for data analysis and for numerical computation. Previous experience with computers is an asset, but is not required.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Warburton, Andreas; Engelberg, Edith M (Fall)
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
3-6 credits to satisfy a statistics requirement.
Students usually take MATH 203 or both MATH 323 and MATH 324.
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MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Examples of statistical data and the use of graphical means to summarize the data. Basic distributions arising in the natural and behavioural sciences. The logical meaning of a test of significance and a confidence interval. Tests of significance and confidence intervals in the one and two sample setting (means, variances and proportions).
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013
Instructors: Reynolds, Patrick; Genest, Christian (Fall) Correa, Jose Andres (Winter) Harel, Daphna (Summer)
No calculus prerequisites
Restriction: This course is intended for students in all disciplines. For extensive course restrictions covering statistics courses see Section 3.6.1 of the Arts and of the Science sections of the calendar regarding course overlaps.
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar. Students should consult for information regarding transfer credits for this course.
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MATH 323 Probability (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Sample space, events, conditional probability, independence of events, Bayes' Theorem. Basic combinatorial probability, random variables, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions. Independence of random variables. Inequalities, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013, Summer 2013
Instructors: Asgharian-Dastenaei, Masoud (Fall) Wolfson, David B (Winter) Kelome, Djivede (Summer)
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MATH 324 Statistics (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, contingency tables, nonparametric inference, regression, Bayesian inference.
Terms: Fall 2012, Winter 2013
Instructors: Anderson, William J (Fall) Wolfson, David B (Winter)
Fall and Winter
Prerequisite: MATH 323 or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 357
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
3 credits selected from:
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PHYS 333 Thermal and Statistical Physics (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Introductory equilibrium statistical mechanics. Quantum states, probabilities, ensemble averages. Entropy, temperature, Boltzmann factor, chemical potential. Photons and phonons. Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions; applications.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Francois, Paul (Winter)
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PHYS 340 Majors Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : The electrostatic field and scalar potential. Dielectric properties of matter. Energy in the electrostatic field. Methods for solving problems in electrostatics. The magnetic field. Induction and inductance. Energy in the magnetic field. Magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell's equations. The dipole approximation.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Dasgupta, Keshav (Fall)
3-6 credits ordinarily selected from the courses below:
* Students may take either ATOC 419 or CHEM 419
** Students may take either PHYS 432 or MATH 555
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ATOC 419 Advances in Chemistry of Atmosphere (3 credits) *
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Selected areas of atmospheric chemistry from field and laboratory to theoretical modelling are examined. The principles of atmospheric reactions (gas, liquid and heterogeneous phases in aerosols and clouds) and issues related to chemical global change will be explored.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Ariya, Parisa A (Winter)
Winter
3 hours lecture
Prerequisites: CHEM 243, and CHEM 263 or CHEM 213 and CHEM 273, MATH 222 and MATH 315 (or equivalents) or permission of instructor.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken CHEM 419, CHEM 619, and ATOC 619
Offered in odd years. Students should register in CHEM 419 in even years
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ATOC 515 Turbulence in Atmosphere and Oceans (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Application of statistical and semi-empirical methods to the study of geophysical turbulence. Reynolds' equations, dimensional analysis, and similarity. The surface and planetary boundary layers. Oceanic mixed layer. Theories of isotropic two- and three- dimensional turbulence: energy and enstrophy inertial ranges. Beta turbulence.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.
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CHEM 419 Advances in Chemistry of Atmosphere (3 credits) *
Overview
Chemistry : Selected areas of atmospheric chemistry from field and laboratory to theoretical modelling are examined. The principles of atmospheric reactions (gas, liquid and heterogeneous phases in aerosols and clouds) and issues related to chemical global change will be explored.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Ariya, Parisa A (Winter)
Winter
3 lectures
Prerequisites: CHEM 243, and CHEM 263 or CHEM 213 and CHEM 273, MATH 222 and MATH 315 (or equivalents) or permission of instructor.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ATOC 419, CHEM 619, or ATOC 619
Offered in even years. Students should register in ATOC 419 in odd years.
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GEOG 322 Environmental Hydrology (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : Quantitative, experimental study of the principles governing the movement of water at or near the Earth's surface and how the research relates to the chemistry and biology of ecosystems.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Roulet, Nigel Thomas (Winter)
Winter
3 hours
Prerequisite: GEOG 203 or equivalent
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GEOG 372 Running Water Environments (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : The course focuses on the physical habitat conditions found in streams, rivers, estuaries and deltas. Based on the laws governing flow of water and sediment transport, it emphasizes differences among these environments, in terms of channel form, flow patterns, substrate composition and mode of evolution. Flooding, damming, channelisation, forestry impacts.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Lapointe, Michel F (Fall)
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MATH 317 Numerical Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Error analysis. Numerical solutions of equations by iteration. Interpolation. Numerical differentiation and integration. Introduction to numerical solutions of differential equations.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Bartello, Peter (Fall)
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MATH 423 Regression and Analysis of Variance (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Least-squares estimators and their properties. Analysis of variance. Linear models with general covariance. Multivariate normal and chi-squared distributions; quadratic forms. General linear hypothesis: F-test and t-test. Prediction and confidence intervals. Transformations and residual plot. Balanced designs.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Khalili Mahmoudabadi, Abbas (Fall)
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MATH 555 Fluid Dynamics (4 credits) **
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Kinematics. Dynamics of general fluids. Inviscid fluids, Navier-Stokes equations. Exact solutions of Navier-Stokes equations. Low and high Reynolds number flow.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.
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PHYS 241 Signal Processing (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Linear circuit elements, resonance, network theorems, diodes, transistors, amplifiers, feedback, integrated circuits.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Sutton, Mark (Winter)
Winter
2 hours lectures; 3 hours laboratory alternate weeks
Prerequisite: CEGEP physics or PHYS 142.
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PHYS 331 Topics in Classical Mechanics (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Forced and damped oscillators, Newtonian mechanics in three dimensions, rotational motion, Lagrangian mechanics, small vibrations, normal modes. Introduction to Hamiltonian mechanics.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Holder, Gilbert (Winter)
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PHYS 340 Majors Electricity and Magnetism (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : The electrostatic field and scalar potential. Dielectric properties of matter. Energy in the electrostatic field. Methods for solving problems in electrostatics. The magnetic field. Induction and inductance. Energy in the magnetic field. Magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell's equations. The dipole approximation.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Dasgupta, Keshav (Fall)
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PHYS 342 Majors Electromagnetic Waves (3 credits)
Overview
Physics : Maxwell's equations. The wave equation. The electromagnetic wave, reflection, refraction, polarization. Guided waves. Transmission lines and wave guides. Vector potential. Radiation. The elemental dipole; the half-wave dipole; vertical dipole; folded dipoles; Yagi antennas. Accelerating charged particles.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Hilke, Michael (Winter)
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PHYS 432 Physics of Fluids (3 credits) **
Overview
Physics : The physical properties of fluids. The kinematics and dynamics of flow. The effects of viscosity and turbulence. Applications of fluid mechanics in biophysics, geophysics and engineering.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Cline, James M (Winter)
6 credits selected from:
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ATOC 513 Waves and Stability (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Linear theory of waves in rotating and stratified media. Geostrophic adjustment and model initialization. Wave propagation in slowly varying media. Mountain waves; waves in shear flows. Barotropic, baroclinic, symmetric, and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Wave-mean flow interaction. Equatorially trapped waves.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Straub, David N (Winter)
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ATOC 521 Cloud Physics (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Review of dry and moist atmospheric thermodynamics concepts. Atmospheric aerosols, nucleation of water and ice. Formation and growth of cloud droplets and ice crystals. Initiation of precipitation. Severe storms and hail. Weather modification. Numerical cloud models.
Terms: Fall 2012
Instructors: Yau, Man K (Fall)
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ATOC 525 Atmospheric Radiation (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Solar and terrestrial radiation. Interactions of molecules, aerosols, clouds, and precipitation with radiation of various wavelengths. Radiative transfer through the clear and cloudy atmosphere. Radiation budgets. Satellite and ground-based measurements. Climate implications.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.
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ATOC 530 Paleoclimate Dynamics (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Introduction to the components of the climate system. Review of paleoclimates. Physical processes and models of climate and climate change.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Winter
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite (Undergraduate): MATH 315, or permission of instructor
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ATOC 541 Synoptic Meteorology 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences : Analysis of current meteorological data. Quasi-geostrophic theory, including the omega equation, as it relates to extratropical cyclone and anticyclone development. Frontogenesis and frontal circulations in the lower and upper troposphere. Cumulus convection and its relationship to tropical and extratropical circulations. Diagnostic case study work.
Terms: Winter 2013
Instructors: Atallah, Eyad Hashem (Winter)
Faculty of Science—2012-2013 (last updated Dec. 20, 2012) (disclaimer)