Atmosphere & Climate

Researchers in atmospheric sciences study the global climate system with an emphasis on the physical, dynamic, and chemical interactions of the air, sea, land, ice, and biosphere.

Investigations include the El Niño phenomenon, climate change on seasonal-to-decadal time scales, the dynamics of clouds, solar radiation, air-sea exchange, the impacts of human activities on climate, and past climate conditions on time scales of hundreds to millions of years.

Scripps scientists confirmed the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and have led several major, international studies of the air-sea interface in the Pacific and Indian oceans that have defined major processes in the climate system.

• Researchers have developed large-scale climate-modeling techniques that can be used to predict water flow variations in streams and rivers across the western United States. Applying this research to drought prediction has also helped managers prepare for wildfires in the vast forestlands of the West.
• Investigators continue to apply data collected during the Indian Ocean Experiment to yield new understanding of the effects of atmospheric aerosols and air pollution on solar radiation and cloud formation. For example, initial findings indicate that a cloud of pollution covering South Asia during most of the year is reducing surface heating by 10 to 15 percent and disrupting weather systems.