Department of Atmospheric Sciences

in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the University of Hawai‘i

SOEST scientists contribute to most comprehensive research on climate change, El Niño

Climate change is happening and accelerating. Earth will continue to warm. And these changes are unequivocally caused by human activities. Those are among the conclusions of the report published recently by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), with University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa assistant professor of oceanography Malte Stuecker as a contributing author.

SOEST recognized internationally for academic and research excellence

SOEST is No. 15 in the world in atmospheric sciences, No. 16 in oceanography and 51-75 in earth sciences, according to the 2021 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) by the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, considered one of the most comprehensive and objective rankings of world universities by subjects. A total of 15 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa programs were ranked, including two others that earned top 100 marks.

Vog monitoring and forecasting continues during Kīlauea eruption

At 9:30 on the evening of December 20, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) detected a glow within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, indicating that an eruption had begun within Kīlauea’s summit caldera. The water lake at the summit of Kīlauea boiled away with an effusive eruption and vents continue to generate lava, pouring into a growing lava lake at the base of the crater. The University of Hawai‘i (UH) Vog Measurement and Prediction (VMAP) Project continues to create forecasts of dispersion and trajectories of volcanic smog, referred to as vog, which are available in real-time online.

Outstanding employees recognized with RCUH awards

Tiziana Cherubini and Ryan Lyman with the Maunakea Weather Center were nominated by atmospheric sciences professor Steven Businger and were awarded the first place in the 2020 Outstanding Team category.

SOEST vog forecasting program continues with new funding

The Vog Measurement and Prediction (VMAP) project, led by SOEST atmospheric scientists, received three years of new funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve VMAP’s ability to provide statewide forecasts of volcanic smog, known locally as “vog,” and to expand delivery methods to include push notification to smartphones.

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Aloha! Welcome to the home page of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. We are entering our second half century providing education in the atmospheric sciences here 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 left. 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.