Introduction

Research and teaching activities span a broad range of atmospheric science topics from aerosol chemistry, cloud microphysics and small-scale turbulence, micro, meso and synoptic scale meteorology to global scale phenomena affecting weather, climate, air quality and the ozone layer. Studies of the atmosphere of Mars and other planets are also undertaken.

Numerical modelling and atmospheric dynamics play a role in many of the research studies and faculty are involved in modelling of the atmosphere from the surface to the thermosphere on a variety of temporal and spatial scales. For example, working with MSC, global climate models are used to investigate the interaction of air quality and climate, and MSC's multiscale weather forecast model is being used to investigate air quality from global to urban scales. It has also been adapted to produce Martian "weather forecasts". Work is also done on supercomputers located at other institutions. Field measurement programs are carried out from time to time, locally and across Canada, including the Arctic.

In addition to full time faculty there are a number of postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and assistants who contribute significantly to our research. All faculty have active research programs and opportunities arise for undergraduate involvement.

There are excellent opportunities for collaborative research with the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) and with other research groups both in Canada and abroad.

Department members have been active in the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) and the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS).

York University is a member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) who operate NCAR, the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.