Faculty are funded by several state and federal organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), State of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, and the Wyoming Water Development Commission. To learn more about our research and which of our faculty are active in these areas follow the links below.
Aerosol and Air Quality
Aerosol particles range from desert dust to black and organic carbon from wildfires to nitrate aerosol from pollution. These particles have important implications for climate, clouds, and air quality. Our research focuses on both aerosol observations and modeling.
Climate
Climate research in the department covers a broad range of topics using both modeling and experimental approaches.
Cloud Microphysics and Dynamics
Physics and dynamics of clouds is a cornerstone of the department and remains a key area of research among much of its faculty. The objective of much of this work is to better understand cloud microphysical processes through observations and modeling.
Instrument Development and Characterization
Developing new instruments and characterizing and understanding existing instruments is key to being able to use observations effectively in addressing relevant scientific questions.
Visit the Instrument Development and Characterization webpage
Mesoscale and Boundary-Layer Dynamics
High-resolution model simulations are utilized to understand the connection between the micro-scale and mesoscale motions, particularly in deep convective clouds. Several other key problems in the fields of mesoscale and boundary-layer dynamics are being explored using state-of-the-art observations.
Model Development
Developing new and improved numerical models is critical for advancing the state of the science, improving weather prediction, and better understanding future climate, all of which are currently being explored at the University of Wyoming.
Remote Sensing and Radiative Transfer
Radiative transfer theory forms the foundation of optical instrumentation, remote sensing methodologies, and climate science. In particular, remote sensing serves as an indispensable tool in atmospheric sciences for acquiring cloud and aerosol data across a wide range of observational platforms. We utilize remote sensing data collected by the University of Wyoming King Air to investigate the fine-scale structure of clouds and aerosols, with a focus on understanding their microphysics.
Visit the Remote Sensing and Radiative Transfer webpage
