Atmospheric processes play a dominant role in shaping our environment. These processes drive, e.g., weather systems and climate change; precipitation and flooding; pollutant transport and deposition; and storm surges, wave generation and coastal erosion. Therefore, almost any environmental initiative requires, at the very least, consideration of how atmospheric processes impact the environment. As a result, many departments in the University have faculty members with expertise in studying these processes. However, since the faculty is spread throughout the University we have not been able to take full advantage of this expertise in our research and educational activities.

In 2007, faculty from across three colleges and three campuses began meeting to organize atmospheric and related science researchers at the University of Connecticut. This grassroots effort began as an ad-hoc committee which found the many strengths in the atmospheric sciences at UConn dispersed throughout the UConn system and thus collaborations remained latent potential. Individuals representing several units rapidly organized into a more formal Atmospheric Sciences Group (ASG) located within the Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering.

The purpose of the ASG is to raise the profile of atmospheric and related research at UConn to national prominence by:

1) Leading the application for UConn membership in UCAR and maintaining this membership,
2) Enhancing opportunities for research collaboration between units and campuses, and
3) Providing guidance for consideration of undergraduate and graduate programs in the
atmospheric and related sciences.