PhD in Atmospheric Science - Extreme Weather in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The University of California, Davis provides comprehensive degree programs in Atmospheric Science, including Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) options. Our undergraduate program meets the rigorous accreditation requirements established by the National Weather Service and the American Meteorological Society. Graduate studies are administered by the Atmospheric Science Graduate Group (ASGG), which consists of faculty and students from various academic departments and disciplines, fostering a collaborative research environment. Atmospheric science examines the physical, chemical, and dynamic processes of Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with water systems and living organisms.

The curriculum equips students with expertise in diverse areas such as air pollution studies, weather forecasting, atmospheric composition, small-scale meteorology, biological interactions with weather systems, climate patterns, regional weather phenomena, global atmospheric circulation, and computer modeling of weather systems. Graduates develop both theoretical understanding and practical skills for conducting scientific research and academic instruction related to atmospheric processes and their connections to Earth's water and life systems. Our graduate program emphasizes several specialized fields: Air Chemistry and Pollution Control, Biological Interactions with Weather Systems, Local and Surface-Level Weather Patterns, Global Climate Systems, Computer Modeling in Earth Sciences, Severe Weather Phenomena, and Climate Change Effects

UC Davis's Severe Weather research team investigates high-impact meteorological events such as hurricanes, mid-latitude storms, prolonged heat periods, dry spells, persistent high-pressure systems, and other phenomena capable of significant societal consequences. According to IPCC findings on extreme weather, the coming decades will likely bring considerable global warming, leading to more frequent regional temperature records, drier conditions in some areas, intensified rainfall in wet regions, and stronger tropical storms. Human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, have already contributed to approximately 1°C of global temperature rise since industrialization. Yet, determining how anthropogenic factors affect recent extreme weather occurrences remains an ongoing research challenge. Students in this specialization work to enhance our understanding of severe weather patterns and their projected evolution throughout the 21st century.