The Role of Atmospheric Science in University Earth System Science Curricula

The field of Atmospheric Science has a special and central role to play in university-level curricula in earth system science. The on-going development of a more interdisciplinary approach to teaching earth science at both the pre-college and college levels provides an opportunity for exposing a much broader audience to atmospheric science and for introducing aspects other than weather prediction.

Cornell’s educational initiative in the Science of Earth Systems (SES) is described. This is a pure science curriculum that emphasizes strong preparation in basic science and math, and the application of these tools to understanding the earth. Students are also required to develop an area of expertise by focussing on an area of concentration in the junior and senior years. The major is designed to produce students who are competitive for graduate school with students from more disciplinary backgrounds. In addition, the major meshes well the more interdisciplinary approach that is being advanced at the high school level.

About half of our students go on to graduate school in one of the earth science disciplines or into the work force with some environmental connection. The other half are interested in advanced study outside of the science, in environmental law or public affairs, for example. The SES curriculum provides them with an excellent springboard for such studies, and we are pleased to be contributing to a pool of future public leaders who are able to understand the science of environmental issues.

Atmospheric science topics are central to all of the core courses in the SES curriculum, which include Climate Dynamics, Biogeochemistry, and Evolution of the Earth System. A defined area of concentration for the SES major, Climate Dynamics, is popular and provides students interested in the science of global change with a basic science approach to the topic.