Study Climatology at Queen’s

All climatology course work and research is conducted from within the Geography Department at Queen's. To learn about degree requirements, courses offered, and faculty, visit the Geography Home Page.Within Geography, you can pursue a B.Sc., M.Sc., or Ph.D. . focusing on climatology. Information on related courses and research are listed below.

Research Initiatives

Undergraduate courses

Graduate courses

Graduate Student Research

Research in Climatology  Dr. J.H. McCaughey

Research opportunities exist at the M.Sc., Ph.D. . and post- doctoral levels. For details on application procedures, visit the Geography Department's page or contact H. McCaughey .  Research projects are possible in various aspects of forest climatology, especially on surface-atmosphere interaction and modeling. The core is provided by work on surface controls of water, energy, and carbon exchange for forest sites. Studies are ongoing on the testing and development of surface-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer (SVAT) schemes where the focus is on understanding the nature of evapotranspiration and the role of the vegetation controls, such as stomatal conductance. Another topic of interest is carbon exchange from ecosystems. Both stand-level and regional studies are welcomed.  A range of modern instrumentation is available, including eddy covariance equipment for flux measurement (momentum, sensible and latent heat, and carbon dioxide), numerous data loggers, and transducers for the components of the surface radiation balance, photosynthetic photon flux density, soil heat flux, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure.  Students have access to modern computing facilities and a broad range of specific software as well as spreadsheet, database, word processing, and drawing packages.

 

Top                              Undergraduate Courses in Climatology

GPHY 209*/0.5 Principles of Hydroclimatology  The principles of energy and water exchange between the atmosphere, surface and subsurface. The hydrological cycle, radiation, and energy balances are used as conceptual frameworks. PREREQUISITE GPHY 100 or permission of the instructor   New Stuff:   Click here to go to the new GPHY 209 Website.

GPHY 313*/0.5 Microclimatology  The study of surface radiation, energy, and water balances. Evaporation, including the factors which control it for forests, lakes, and agricultural crops, is studied intensively.  PREREQUISITE GPHY 209*

GPHY 314*/0.5 Climate Change  The study of historical climatic change, projected future climates and emphasizing the effects of global warming, humans as agents of climatic system change.  Click here to go to the new GPHY 313 Webpage PREREQUISITE GPHY 210* or 209* or permission of the instructor New stuff:     Click here to go to the new GPHY 314 Webpage

GPHY 315*/0.5 Environmental Measurements: Data collection and Management Methods of measurement and management of environmental data including energy and radiation fluxes, temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, and soil moisture. Practical work involves the design and implementation of a field experiment.  PREREQUISITE One full-course equivalent at the 200 level or above in physical geography.

GPHY 501*/0.5 Special Studies in Geography  Open to students admitted to an honours program in geography who have demonstrated exceptional ability. The student will arrange a program of study with a specific member of the Department.  PREREQUISITE Consent of the supervising member of the Department and permission of the Undergraduate Committee.

Top                           Graduate Courses in Climatology

GPHY 830*/0.5 Physical Climatology  A discussion of the processes that control energy, mass, and trace gas exchanges at the air-surface interface in the context of Earth System Science. Particular attention is given to soil and vegetation as modulators of energy and water exchange between the surface and the lower atmosphere. The controls of fluxes of trace gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are reviewed and their role in global change discussed. Surface-atmosphere interaction modeling is introduced as an element of climate change analysis. Three term-hours.

GPHY 841*/0.5 Measurement in Climatology  A review of procedures used in support of the measurement of energy, mass, and trace gas fluxes between the surface and the atmosphere in the context of Earth System Science. Particular attention is paid to techniques for measuring air temperature, humidity, wind profiles, evaporation, heat transfer in the soil and lower atmosphere, trace gas exchange (carbon dioxide and methane), and the relevant ecophysiological parameters, e.g., stomatal resistance and leaf area index.  Three term-hours.

GPHY 891*/0.5 Advanced Studies in Physical Geography  Selected specialized topics in the following areas of research concentration in physical geography in the department: geomorphology, pedology, and climatology. Normally, this course will take the form of a closely supervised reading course in the area of the instructor's expertise. Three term-hours.

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