Dr. Kay researches coupled climate processes, cold clouds and precipitation, sea ice, and climate forcing and feedbacks. The tools her group applies include remote sensing observations, in situ observations, process models, coupled climate models, instrument simulators, and data assimilation. Her group works closely with scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR, also located in Boulder) in the development and analysis of global coupled climate models.
keywords
Polar regions, Coupled atmospheric-oceanic climate processes, Clouds, Precipitation, Sea ice, Land ice; Climate forcing and feedbacks, Climate change and variability, Science communication
ATOC 1060 - Our Changing Environment: El Nino, Ozone, and Climate
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2023
Discusses the Earth's climate for nonscience majors, focusing on the role of the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere and land surface. Describes the water cycle, atmospheric circulations and ocean currents, and how they influence global climate, El Nino and the ozone hole. Discusses human impacts from climate change. Recommended prerequisite: ATOC 1050.
ATOC 4020 - Seminar in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Explores current research areas; students read selected papers, give presentations and participate in discussions; fellowship and internship opportunities; discussion on practical skills necessary for academic and professional life; career-building activities with outside speakers from academia and industry. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours within the degree as long as the topic is different. May be repeated for a total of 3 credit hours within a semester.
ATOC 4500 - Special Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences - Upper Division
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2022
Acquaints students at the upper division level with current research in atmospheres, oceans, and climate. Topics may vary each semester. May be repeated up to 18 total credit hours within the degree as long as the topic is different. Students may register for more than one section of this course in the same semester. Recommended restriction: students with 57-180 credits (Juniors or Seniors).
ATOC 4800 - Policy Implications of Climate Controversies
Secondary Instructor
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Spring 2024
Examines controversial issues related to the environment, including climate change. Covers scientific theories and the intersection between science and governmental policy. Includes discussion, debate and critical reading of textual materials. Department enforced prerequisite: ATOC 1060 or ATOC 3600. Same as ATOC 5000 and ENVS 5830.
ATOC 4870 - Climate Modeling Laboratory
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2024
Climate models solve equations describing the earth system. This course provides an overview of climate modeling. Standard climate model approaches and experiments are presented, and then used in companion exercises. This course will provide students with real-world experience running a climate model used internationally for climate science and policy. This course is aimed at upper level undergraduate students. Recommended prerequisite: Experience with programming, Calculus, Differential Equations and Linear Algebra. Recommended restriction: Junior or Senior ATOC students. Same as ATOC 5870.
ATOC 5000 - Critical Issues in Climate and the Environment
Secondary Instructor
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Spring 2024
Discusses current issues such as ozone depletion, global warming and air quality for graduate students in nonscientific fields. Provides the scientific background necessary to understand, follow scientific developments and critically evaluate these issues. Same as ATOC 4800 and ENVS 5830.
ATOC 5600 - Physics and Chemistry of Clouds and Aerosols
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020
Examines the physics and chemistry of clouds and aerosols in the planetary atmospheres, where they impact climate, atmospheric chemistry, remote sensing and weather. Applies basic microphysical, radiative and chemical processes affecting particles to issues in current literature. Recommended prerequisite: one semester of college-level chemistry and calculus-based physics and math up through differential equations. ATOC graduate core course.
ATOC 5860 - Objective Data Analysis Laboratory
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Teaches the extraction of information from data using statistical methods via a computer program. The goals of this course are: 1) to learn and apply tools to objectively analyze atmospheric and oceanic data, 2) to critically evaluate research using these tools. The course covers hypothesis testing, compositing, regression, principal component analysis, time series analysis, filtering, and data assimilation. This �learning-by-doing� course is aimed at advanced graduate students conducting ATOC-related research. Recommended prerequisite: ATOC 4810 or 5810, and familiarity with linear algebra, basic calculus, github and jupyter.
ATOC 5870 - Climate Modeling Laboratory
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2024
Climate models solve equations describing the earth system. This course provides an overview of climate modeling. Standard climate model approaches and experiments are presented, and then used in companion exercises. This course will provide students with real-world experience running a climate model used internationally for climate science and policy. Same as ATOC 4870.
ATOC 6020 - Seminar in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Studies an area of current research in the atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Students read selected papers from the literature. Students and faculty give presentations and participate in discussions. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours within the degree. May be repeated for a total of 3 credit hours within a semester.
