Department ofEarth and Planetary Sciences

Research in the department EPS includes both experimental/field and theoretical studies focused on understanding the complex inter-relationships among the major Earth systems, as well as other planets. Scientists in the department have expertise in a range of Earth science and planetary science disciplines, including climate dynamics, hydrology, soil-water environments, oceanic circulation, paleoceanography and the study of past climatic patterns, plant-environment interactions, atmospheric chemistry, cloud dynamics, earth system dynamics, geochemistry and geophysics. These disciplines, and topics studied in each one of them, are ultimately integrated as a means to understand and predict local, regional and global changes. A key objective is to develop scientific activities that explore the critical interfaces coupling the Earth systems. These include the biosphere-atmosphere, ocean-atmosphere, ocean-sediment, and atmosphere-land surface-soil-groundwater interfaces.