Alpenglow on "The Diamond" of Longs Peak, viewed from Fort Collins, Colorado
Welcome! We are a research group in the Department of Atmospheric Science within the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at Colorado State University. We study the physics and dynamics of Earth's climate system, with emphasis on interactions among the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and land. Our research focuses on the processes that shape Earth's climate and govern its response to external forcing, such as changes in atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentrations or variations in orbital configuration. Key interests include large-scale atmospheric and ocean circulation, polar climate and sea ice, radiative processes and feedbacks, the hydrological cycle, and the energetics of the coupled climate system.
We take a hierarchical approach that combines observations, theory, and numerical modeling, ranging from comprehensive Earth system models to idealized general circulation models and conceptual frameworks. These tools are complemented by targeted model experiments and statistical methods that help isolate physical mechanisms and interpret observations and simulations of Earth's climate in the past, present, and future.