Ocean-atmosphere interactions, ranging from seasonal to millennial scales, can exert great influence on ecosystems and society, yet are a key source of uncertainty in projections of future climate. Scientific understanding of low-frequency climate variability suffers from a lack of continuous, reliable observations. My research addresses the following general questions: • How can we better understand the extent of unforced climate variability? How can we better understand the climate system's physical and biogeochemical response to forced change? • Can we better leverage paleoclimate archives to answer critical questions in climate research? • What causes unforced climate variability to change? Do we have evidence of changing variability in the past—and should we expect it to change in the future? • How does tropical climate variability influence vulnerable ecosystems and societies? To combat the lack of instrumental observations, I rely heavily on paleoclimate archives and numerical climate models.
keywords
paleoclimate, climate change, climate variability, oceanography, isotope geochemistry, global change
ATOC 1060 - Our Changing Environment: El Nino, Ozone, and Climate
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2022
Discusses the Earth's climate for nonscience majors, focusing on the role of the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere and land surface. Describes the water cycle, atmospheric circulations and ocean currents, and how they influence global climate, El Nino and the ozone hole. Discusses human impacts from climate change. Recommended prerequisite: ATOC 1050.
ATOC 3070 - Introduction to Oceanography
Primary Instructor
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Summer 2021 / Fall 2025
Explores Earth's dynamic oceans. Discusses the disciplines of oceanography including marine geology, chemistry, biology and physical oceanography with emphasis on global change. Specific topics may include: tectonics, currents, biogeochemical cycles, ecology and global warming. Recommended prerequisite: any 1000-level ATOC or ERTH course or ATOC major. Same as ERTH 3070.
ATOC 4740 - Dynamics of Past Climate Changes: Lessons for the Future
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2026
Studies past changes in the Earth�s climate and their application to predict future climate changes. Combines theoretical understanding of the climate system, computer models, and records of past changes from geological archives to understand drivers of past and future changes in climate. Emerging and inter-disciplinary area in climate research including paleoclimatology, climate theory, and modelling. Students work individually and in groups to formulate hypotheses that ca be tested using paleoclimate records and model simulations. Formerly offered as a special topics course. Same as ATOC 5720. Recommended prerequisite: Prior college-level coursework in Chemistry and Physics, and least two of the following courses - ATOC 1060, ATOC 4730, ATOC 5730, GEOL 3040, GEOL 3070, GEOL 3820, GEOL 4060, or GEOL 4070.
ATOC 4800 - Policy Implications of Climate Controversies
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025
Examines controversial issues related to the environment, including climate change. Covers scientific theories and the intersection between science and governmental policy. Includes discussion, debate and critical reading of textual materials. Department enforced prerequisite: ATOC 1060 or ATOC 3600. Same as ATOC 5000 and ENVS 5830.
ATOC 5000 - Critical Issues in Climate and the Environment
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023 / Spring 2024 / Spring 2025
Discusses current issues such as ozone depletion, global warming and air quality for graduate students in nonscientific fields. Provides the scientific background necessary to understand, follow scientific developments and critically evaluate these issues. Same as ATOC 4800 and ENVS 5830.
ATOC 5740 - Dynamics of Past Climate Changes: Lessons for the Future
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2026
Studies past changes in the Earth�s climate and their application to predict future climate changes. Combines theoretical understanding of the climate system, computer models, and records of past changes from geological archives to understand drivers of past and future changes in climate. Emerging and inter-disciplinary area in climate research including paleoclimatology, climate theory, and modelling. Students work individually and in groups to formulate hypotheses that ca be tested using paleoclimate records and model simulations. Formerly offered as a special topics course. Same as ATOC 4740. Recommended prerequisites: At least two of the following courses - ATOC 5050, ATOC 5051, ATOC 5060, ATOC 5300, ATOC 5730, ATOC 5870, GEOL 5060, GEOL 5305, GEOL 5430, or GEOL 5675.
ATOC 6020 - Seminar in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2024 / Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
Studies an area of current research in the atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Students read selected papers from the literature. Students and faculty give presentations and participate in discussions. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours within the degree. May be repeated for a total of 3 credit hours within a semester.
ENVS 5830 - Critical Issues in Climate and the Environment
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2025
Discusses current issues such as ozone depletion, global warming and air quality for graduate students in nonscientific fields. Provides the scientific background necessary to understand, follow scientific developments and critically evaluate these issues. Same as ATOC 4800 and ATOC 5000.
