Introduces students to the dynamic causes of deserts in the context of atmospheric processes and land-surface physics. Discusses desert severe weather, desert microclimates, human impacts and desertification, inter-annual variability in aridity (drought), the effects of deserts on global climate and the impact of desert climate on humans. Recommended prerequisites: one semester of calculus and ATOC 1050 or ATOC 1060 or ATOC 3600 or ATOC major. Same as ATOC 5750.
