Overview
The MSc Atmospheric Sciences provides an opportunity to study the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere in an integrated manner. It provides ideal training for a career or further postgraduate study in atmospheric science or climate system science.
The course is unique in the UK in trying to strike a balance between physics and chemistry in understanding the behaviour of the atmosphere. Some elements of the course draw attention to the science-policy interface, particularly in our treatment of air pollution, climate change and issues such as stratospheric ozone depletion. This focus means that our graduates are capable of applying their knowledge within government agencies and consultancies.
The taught part of the course has recently been made more flexible to allow for students with different backgrounds and different interests.
The course lasts 46 weeks, beginning at the start of the academic year in mid-September and finishing in mid-August. Approximately two-thirds of your time will be devoted to taught courses and the remainder to a research project.
You will choose your own dissertation topic, decided around the start of the second semester. Supervision is provided on a one-to-one basis by staff within the School. Your project will involve a competent survey of the field of interest, including a literature review, and some original research. The research will typically involve laboratory-based experiments, data gathering/mining and data analysis, or numerical modelling.
Recent Dissertation Titles
- Katabatically generated gravity waves in Antarctica
- Statistical prediction of the Madden-Julian Oscillation
- Monitoring pollution levels in a street in Norwich
- Giant particles in the atmosphere
- Volatile chlorinated organics from seaweed
- Hygroscopicity of museum dust related to deterioration of artefacts
"The interdisciplinary nature of the course gives a great overview of the processes occurring in the atmosphere. The mixture of practical and fieldwork ensured this was a great starting point to my career as an atmospheric scientist."
Zak Buys Former student and current PhD student at the British Antarctic Survey
Course Organiser
Dr Claire Reeves
Why Choose Us?
- 95% of research activity classified as internationally leading, excellent or recognised in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
- Teaching of the highest quality; rated “ Excellent” in the most recent Teaching Quality Assessment.
- With 62 faculty members, the School is the largest interdisciplinary Environmental Science department in the UK.
- Extensive recent investment in buildings and laboratories provide excellent facilities for research.
- A large community of researchers, including more than 150 research students, 72 research staff and 27 technicians.
- “The School of Environmental Sciences is the strongest in the world” Prof Sir David King, UK Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, 2005.
Come and Visit Us
Our
Open Days will give you the opportunity to experience the University of East Anglia's unique campus atmosphere.
Entry Requirements
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This programme is open to students with a good first degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics, environmental sciences and related subjects. A good grounding in mathematics is expected.
Students for whom English is a foreign language
International applicants are required to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language (if English is not their first language).
Preferred qualifications are:
- IELTS Minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
- TOEFL Minimum score of 580 (paper based test), 230 (computer based test) or 92 (internet based test)
- Pearsons Test of English (PTE) Minimum score of 62 with no less than 47 in each component
- GCSE or GCE Ordinary Level English Language at grade C or above
Applicants who have previously studied in the English language may not be required to provide evidence of English language ability.
Disclaimer
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules and regular (five-yearly) review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff or sabbatical leave. Where this is the case, the University will endeavour to inform students.
Year 1
Compulsory Study (120 credits)
Students will select 120 credits from the following module(s).
| Code |
Credits |
Period |
Atmospheric chemistry is in the news: stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, greenhouse gases, and global scale air pollution are seen as some of the most significant environmental problems of our age. Chemical composition and transformations underlie these issues, and drive many important atmospheric processes. This module covers the fundamental chemical principles and underlying physical processes in the atmosphere from the stratosphere to the surface, and considers the role of chemistry in current issues of atmospheric chemical change through a series of lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions and some field work. A secure background in maths and chemistry (e.g. AS-level or equivalent) is recommended.
ENV-MA80 and ENV-MA02 are natural follow-on modules, and build on some of the concepts introduced here.
more...
|
ENV-MA37 |
20 |
Semester 1 |
The dissertation is an individual research project under the guidance of an academic supervisor either within one of the research groups in the School or, as some project placement opportunities with outside organisations are facilitated, with an outside collaborator. Research undertaken normally involves the analysis and interpretation of data collected in the field, from measurements of a sample in the laboratory or from data gathered from other sources including the media, questionnaire surveys, interviews, etc. This module is reserved for MSc students and all students must have taken ENV-MB2Y.
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|
ENV-MB6X |
70 |
Semester 2 |
This module is designed to give a general introduction to meteorology and its relation to climate and climate change, concentrating on the physical processes in the atmosphere and how these influence our weather. The course contains both descriptions and mathematical treatments of meteorological topics and the assessment is designed to allow those with either mathematical or descriptive abilities to do well; however, a reasonable mathematical competence is essential, especially in rearranging equations, and a familiarity with basic calculus is helpful. Co-taught with ENV-2A23.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-2A23 OR EQUIVALENT
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|
ENV-MA23 |
20 |
Semester 1 |
The primary purpose of this module is to provide support and training for the dissertation to ensure that the necessary research is well planned in advance. In order to get the best possible start for the dissertation, advice is given on how to make the best use of UEA library resources, and how to undertake a literature review. Research design is covered to ensure there is a sound understanding of the fundamental concept and requirements of good research, and survey design is explained to help those who need to undertake questionnaire or interview work. Finally, there is an explanation of the assessment for this module, which is a dissertation proposal. This module must be taken before ENV-MB6X Dissertation.
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|
ENV-MB2Y |
10 |
Year Period |
Option A Study (20 credits)
Students will select 20 credits from the following module(s).
| Code |
Credits |
Period |
Emissions of gases and other pollutants from human activities are critical drivers of phenomena such as climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, degradation of air quality in urban and rural areas, long-range transport of air pollution, and changes in aerosol and cloud physical properties. To understand these impacts it is necessary to make atmospheric measurements of chemical composition and physical parameters, and to interpret these observations with a range of statistical, conceptual, and computer-based models. In this module you will be introduced to a range of modern atmospheric measurements techniques, both those used in the field and in the laboratory. Consideration will be given to the relevant chemical and physical processes that are required to understand these observations. You will also learn about a range of interpretive techniques including numerical models, and you will put some of these in to practice. Co-taught with ENV-3A80.
It is recommended that students have previously taken ENV-MA37.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A80 OR EQUIVALENT
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|
ENV-MA80 |
20 |
Semester 2 |
Climate change and variability has played a major role in shaping human history and the prospect of a warming world as a result of human activities (global warming) presents society with an increasing challenge over the coming decades. This module covers the science of climate change and our current understanding of anthropogenic effects on climate. It provides details about the approaches, methods and techniques for understanding the history of climate change and for developing climate projections for the next 100 years, supporting further study of the scientific or policy aspects of the subject in either an academic or applied context. Co-taught with ENV-3A49.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A49 OR EQUIVALENT
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|
ENV-MA49 |
20 |
Semester 1 |
Option B Study (60 credits)
Students will select 60 credits from the following module(s).
| Code |
Credits |
Period |
This module introduces Earth system science, taking a top-down approach to the Earth as a whole system, and tracing its development since its formation 4.5 billion years ago. The main focus is on the coupled evolution of life and its environment through a series of revolutions. Theoretical approaches are introduced, including Gaia, feedback mechanisms and systems theory, and practical sessions use models to build up conceptual understanding. The subject is inherently inter-disciplinary, including aspects of biology, chemistry and physics, and unifying the study of climate and global biogeochemical cycles. Co-taught with ENV-3A38.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A38 OR EQUIVALENT
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|
ENV-MA38 |
20 |
Semester 2 |
The aim of this course is to show how physical environmental problems may be solved from the initial problem, to mathematical formulation and numerical solution. There is a focus on examples within meteorology, oceanography and the solid earth. The course consists of lectures on numerical methods and computing practicals. These concentrate on the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations. The computing practicals will be run in Matlab. The module will guide students through the solution of a geophysical problem of their own choosing. The problem will be discussed and placed into context through an essay, and then solved and written up in a project report. Co-taught with ENV-3A11.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A11 OR EQUIVALENT
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|
ENV-MA11 |
20 |
Semester 1 |
This module gives you an understanding of the physical processes occurring in the basin-scale ocean environment. We will introduce and discuss large scale global ocean circulation, including gyres, boundary currents and the overturning circulation. Major themes include the interaction between ocean and atmosphere, and the forces which drive ocean circulation. Co-taught with ENV-2A39.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-2A39 OR EQUIVALENT
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|
ENV-MA39 |
20 |
Semester 1 |
This module investigates the geological evidence for major environmental changes through Earth history. It will explore selected topics that relate to the extent, timing and causes of past variations of climate as expressed through changes in the fossil and geological record.
Lectures will draw on information from marine, ice core, terrestrial and lacustrine climate archives. Radiometric dating techniques and geochemical/quantitative methods of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction will be examined in practical classes. The module includes half-day excursions to examine key geological field sites in East Anglia. Co-taught with ENV-3A58.
TO TAKE THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN ENV-3A58 OR EQUIVALENT
more...
|
ENV-MA58 |
20 |
Semester 2 |
From supernovae and the early condensation of the solar system, through the climate history of the planet and on to modern stratospheric chemistry, studies using stable isotopes have made a significant contribution to our understanding of the processes that shape the Earth. In this module we look at the theory and practice of isotope geochemistry, covering analytical methods and mass spectrometry, fractionation processes, and isotope behaviour in chemical cycles in the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere. The course consists of lectures, practicals, including hands-on experience in the stable isotope laboratory, and student led seminars.
more...
|
ENV-MA81 |
20 |
Semester 1 |
How To Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
You can
apply online, or by downloading the
hard copy application form, or by using the application form in the University’s Postgraduate Prospectus.
Further Information
To request further information & to be kept up to date with news & events please use our
online enquiry form.
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email:
admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the
International Students section of our website.
