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It actually does make more sense to pursue a physics degree with an emphasis on fluid dynamics (atmospheric and oceanic circulation being of great interest to f
by photochemsyn 5y ago
It actually does make more sense to pursue a physics degree with an emphasis on fluid dynamics (atmospheric and oceanic circulation being of great interest to future climate forecasts), or a chemistry degree with an emphasis on analytical measurement and kinetics (global elemental cycling, particulate dynamics, oceanic and atmospheric chemistry all being similarly important), or a biology degree with an emphasis on ecology and biochemistry (changing species distribution, methane biochemistry etc.).
This all goes under the rubric of 'planetary sciences' of which 'earth system science' is a sort of special case. Also means you could work at NASA on Jupiter's moons etc.
- geoalchimista 5y agoMost people pursuing a degree in physics would be more interested in core physics problems (quantum computing, particle physics, cosmology, etc.) than in climate change. Perhaps it is more difficult to motivate physics majors to turn to climate science than to teach climate scientists physics (since only a subset of physics is needed, mostly fluid dynamics). Otherwise, universities would have climate science in a physics department.