芝加哥大学对大气，海洋，冰冻圈和气候的研究有着悠久的历史。卡尔·古斯塔夫·罗斯比（Carl-Gustaf Rossby），1956年的年度人物，可以说是现代气象学发展中最重要的人物，是1940年代的部门主席。后来的名人包括Ted Fujita，其后以龙卷风强度标度命名。此外，尽管通常认为该部门的创始主席TC Chamberlin是地质学家，但他做了重要的早期冰川学工作。我们的方法从铅笔和纸张理论到高性能数值模拟，再到卫星数据分析再到实验室实验，一应俱全。我们组成一个综合小组，每周一次在期刊俱乐部开会，进行
Research into the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and climate has a long and storied history at the University of Chicago. Carl-Gustaf Rossby, 1956 Time Man of the Year and arguably the most important figure in the development of modern meteorology, was the department chair in the 1940's. Later luminaries include Ted Fujita, after whom the tornado intensity scale is named. Additionally, although TC Chamberlin, founding chair of the department, is normally thought of as a geologist, he did important early glaciological work.<br><br>Our current research is exemplified by the relentless pursuit of truly fundamental problems in glaciology (MacAyeal), geophysical fluid dynamics (Jansen, Nakamura, and Shaw), climate dynamics and climate change (Abbot, Archer, Jansen, Moyer, and Shaw), and atmospheric chemistry (Moyer). Our methodologies range from pencil and paper theory to high-performance numerical simulation to analysis of satellite data to laboratory experiments. We form an integrated group that meets weekly for lively discussions in a journal club, and weekly during the summer for internal seminars by students and postdocs.