Research | GMU College of Science

AOES faculty have broad interests in the major disciplines of climate and geology, with newly developing cross-disciplinary interests in paleoclimatology and paleoceanography.

Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA)

COLA is a research center dedicated to understanding climate fluctuations on seasonal, interannual, and decadal scales, with special emphasis on the interactions between Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. Most of the AOES faculty, staff, and students who do research in Climate Dynamics are affiliated with COLA. The COLA web pages include a description of COLA Research.

Virginia Climate Center (VCC)

The Virginia Climate Center (VCC) works to enhance Virginia’s resilience to the impacts of climate variability and climate change. It provides a structure for experts at AOES and other departments at George Mason to work with partners from Virginia communities to address climate risks throughout the Commonwealth.

International GEWEX Project Office (IGPO)

COLA and AOES host the International Gewex Project Office, created by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) to support the Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) program, which is dedicated to understanding Earth's water cycle and energy fluxes at and below the surface and in the atmosphere. IGPO Contact Information.