Department of Atmospheric Sciences – in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Deep learning illuminates atmospheric blocking events of past, future

Atmospheric blocking events are persistent, high-impact weather patterns that occur when large-scale high-pressure systems become stationary and divert the jet stream and storm tracks for days to weeks, and can be associated with record-breaking flooding or heat waves, such as in Europe in 2023. In a new study, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa atmospheric scientist Christina Karamperidou used a deep learning model to infer the frequency of blocking events over the past 1,000 years and shed light on how future climate change may impact these significant phenomena.

Students build giant antenna to explore far reaches of Earth’s atmosphere

Undergraduates at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa were inspired to build a giant antenna to explore hundreds of miles above the planet. The antenna, known as an ionosonde, project began after a lecture from atmospheric sciences Professor Giuseppe Torri about phenomena that can occur in the ionosphere, one of the highest layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.

Oceanography, atmospheric sciences, more highly ranked for program excellence

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences ranked No. 10 in the U.S. and No. 13 in the world, the Department of Oceanography placed No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 17 in the world, and the School of Travel Industry Management placed No. 18 in the U.S. and No. 49 in the world, according to the 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) released by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. The oceanography and atmospheric sciences departments are out of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and the TIM school is housed in the Shidler College of Business.

Hawai‘i’s Weather Women

Despite its modest size, the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa (UH Mānoa) has earned both national and international acclaim for its research and is a part of the renowned School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology. In a field often dominated by men, three distinguished female faculty are further elevating the department’s research and prestige, making atmospheric waves in climate modeling and cloud microphysics.

Aloha! Welcome to the home page of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. We are entering our second half century providing education in atmospheric sciences at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Since 1988 we have been part of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). To learn about our educational programs and our exciting research and service activities follow the links at the top of the page. For more information about the history and structure of the department, please visit our About the Department page.

The department also maintains an online Weather Server displaying real-time weather observations, including information on current weather conditions, and forecasts for Hawai’i, the central Pacific region, and the continental United States.