Master’s Programme Environmental Meteorology and Climate Physics
You want to study meteorology and climate physics across borders — and build solutions for a changing environment?
As a student of this Master’s Degree Programme, you will explore how the atmosphere shapes — and is shaped by — climate change and evolving weather patterns.
You will analyze the physics behind environmental processes and use state-of-the-art models and measurements to understand the atmosphere’s interactions with land, water, and ecosystems. In lectures, labs, and fieldwork, you will build a robust interdisciplinary skill set that includes atmospheric dynamics, climate physics, meteorological chemistry, hydrology, remote sensing, and data science.This program prepares you to tackle complex questions about our changing environment and to contribute scientific insight to climate adaptation and mitigation.
Supplemental examination
Admission to the joint study program is governed by the cooperation agreement between the universities of Innsbruck and Trento. Details of the admission and selection procedures are provided on this website of the University of Trento, which administers the joint program.Details of the admission and selection procedures are provided on this website of the University of Trento, which administers the joint program: https://international.unitn.it/environmental-meteorology/application
Master of Science
Duration/ECTS-Credits
4 semesters/120 ECTS-Credits
Mode of Study
Full-time
Language
English
Requirements
Relevant bachelor's degree/equivalent
and Language Certificates
Faculty
Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences
Level of qualification
Master (Second Cycle)
ISCED-11: Level 7, EQF/NQF: Level 7
ISCED-F
0532 Earth sciences
Study Code
UC 066 615
FAQ
Because it prepares you to understand and respond to the most urgent environmental and climatic challenges of our time.
You will gain in-depth knowledge of the physical and chemical processes that govern the atmosphere, climate systems, and their interactions with land, water, and ecosystems. You will develop strong skills in theory, measurement, modeling, and scientific communication.
By learning to critically analyze complex environmental data, interpret climate and weather model outputs, and evaluate scientific literature, you will be equipped to make evidence-based contributions in fields such as air quality, climate change impacts, renewable energy, and environmental consulting — in both public and private sectors.
The Master's Programme in Environmental Meteorology and Climate Physics covers a broad and interdisciplinary range of topics focused on the atmosphere, the climate system, and their role in the environment. Key areas include:
- Meteorology and Weather Analysis – including synoptic and dynamic meteorology, atmospheric dynamics, and weather forecasting
- Climate Physics and Climate Change – including radiative transfer, remote sensing, and the physical basis of climate processes and variability
- Atmospheric Chemistry – covering ozone chemistry, aerosols, trace gases, and their environmental impacts
- Environmental Measurements and Observational Techniques – including field measurements, remote sensing, and environmental instrumentation
- Modeling and Data Analysis – including numerical methods, climate and environmental modeling, and statistical tools
- Hydrology and Environmental Fluid Mechanics – such as surface and subsurface water processes and environmental flow dynamics
- Energy, Agricultural, and Forest Meteorology – applications of atmospheric science to renewable energy, agriculture, and land-atmosphere interactions
- Science Communication and Interdisciplinary Skills – reading, writing, and presenting scientific results for expert and non-expert audiences
The program combines theoretical courses, hands-on laboratory work, field activities, and research-based learning — all in an international setting at the Universities of Innsbruck and Trento.
Graduates of the Master’s Programme in Environmental Meteorology and Climate Physics are qualified for a wide range of careers in both the public and private sectors, where expertise in atmospheric and climate sciences is in high demand.
Typical career paths include:
- National and regional meteorological services – in weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and environmental analysis
- Environmental and climate policy agencies – contributing to air quality management, climate adaptation, and environmental assessment
- Research institutions and universities – in climate science, atmospheric physics, or interdisciplinary environmental research (with the option to pursue a PhD)
- Private sector roles – such as in renewable energy planning, environmental consulting, agriculture and forestry services, and hydrological risk assessment
- NGOs and international organizations – supporting climate action, sustainability projects, and science communication
The program also strengthens your ability to work across cultures and disciplines — thanks to its international structure between the Universities of Innsbruck and Trento — which opens doors to global career opportunities.
Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences Examination Office Information for students with disabilities
Curriculum
From the field
Underlying assumptions of air quality need to be redefined
Long-term measurements in the urban area of Innsbruck, Austria, show that the fraction of ozone near the surface tends to be overestimated in atmospheric models. Consequently, a fundamental assumption for air quality forecasting has to be reinterpreted for urban areas. Measurements by an international team led by atmospheric scientist Thomas Karl of the University of Innsbruck also show that direct nitrogen dioxide emissions are overestimated.
Ice cliffs as an early warning system for the climate
It is rare to find glaciers bounded on land by vertical ice cliffs. These ice cliffs respond with particular sensitivity to environmental changes. Research teams from Tyrol and Styria are investigating ice formations at a site in the far north of Greenland. The researchers intend to draw conclusions about the development of the Arctic climate based on the changes in the glacier walls.
Significant decline of CO2 emissions in Innsbruck
Air monitoring measurements at the University of Innsbruck's atmospheric observatory show that carbon dioxide emissions in western Austria have fallen by around 20 percent since 2018. Emissions are therefore well below the levels predicted by various models. Observational data is becoming increasingly important for assessing greenhouse gas budgets.
Student Advisory Service
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