The Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (MPO) graduate program was founded on the premise that oceanic and atmospheric dynamics are governed by a set of similar physical principles, and that much insight can be gained by studying their dynamics from a common perspective. The MPO program requires students to develop expertise in both systems, and prepares students to conduct leading-edge research using a complementary set of theoretical, observational, and modeling approaches. The MPO curriculum forms a strong foundation for research on a broad spectrum of topics that include air-sea interaction, the global thermohaline circulation, tropical cyclones, El Nino, the Madden-Julian Oscillations, and the evolution of the Earth’s climate.

The MPO program has a strong foundation in several areas in atmospheric and ocean sciences, including those presented below. Research is conducted using a variety of techniques from direct observation to theoretical and numerical modeling. Students come from a diverse range of educational backgrounds, including marine science, meteorology, physics, mathematics, and engineering.