Dr. William Boos

Biography

William Boos is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley. His research group focuses on large-scale atmospheric dynamics, specifically aiming to understand atmospheric circulations, radiative transfer, ocean interactions, and land surface processes that control the distribution of heat and water on Earth. His work is particularly centered on monsoons and continental-scale atmospheric circulations that deliver water to billions of people in regions such as Asia, Africa, the Americas, and northern Australia. Monsoon winds represent a major component of the Earth's global atmospheric circulation. Boos studies extreme weather and climate phenomena, seeking to understand the fluid dynamics and thermodynamics that govern the behavior of atmospheric vortices, heat waves, and intense precipitation events. He pays particular attention to the phase changes of water in the Earth's atmosphere and the interaction of precipitating clouds with planetary-scale flow, which are central unresolved problems in planetary science. Combining theoretical approaches with observational analyses and numerical models, he works to uncover how the world functions. Additionally, he serves as an editor for the Journal of Atmospheric Sciences and is a Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He teaches courses focused on atmosphere-ocean dynamics, extreme weather, and leads career seminars to help students transition from Berkeley degrees to meaningful lifelong careers.

Research Interests