Course Description
Emphasis on the fundamental physics and chemistry of the atmosphere. Topics to be covered include atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, atmospheric radiation and energy balance, atmospheric chemistry, the atmospheric boundary layer, climate dynamics, weather systems and climate dynamics with applications.
Athena Title
Atmospheric Sciences for Engr
Prerequisite
[(MATH 2260 or (MATH 2210 and MATH 2210L)] and (PHYS 1251 or PHYS 1211-1211L or PHYS 1311-1311L) and [(CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L) or (CHEM 1311H and CHEM 1311L) or (CHEM 1411 and CHEM 1411L)]
Pre or Corequisite
MATH 2500 and (PHYS 1252 or PHYS 1212-1212L or PHYS 1312-1312L) and [(CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1212L) or (CHEM 1312H and CHEM 1312L) or (CHEM 1412 and CHEM 1412L)]
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. explain applied and theoretical aspects of atmospheric dynamics, use vectors to perform elementary calculations involving atmospheric dynamics 2. explain applied and theoretical aspects of atmospheric thermodynamics, calculate thermodynamic parameters 3. perform elementary analysis of weather maps, forecast the evolution of typical mid-latitude weather systems and forecast severe weather probabilities based on dynamic and thermodynamic parameters 4. explain the importance of atmospheric chemistry and important atmospheric chemical cycles, demonstrate and understanding of atmospheric conditions in air pollution generation and transport. 5. demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of the earth’s climate system and the important role of energy balance in regulating the earth’s temperature 6. explain the structure and the importance of the atmospheric boundary layer and give examples of its importance in agriculture, marine sciences and air pollution.
Topical Outline
I. Brief Introductory General Overview of the Earth System a. components (oceans, cryosphere, biosphere, earth’s crust and mantle) b. hydrologic cycle c. carbon cycle d. sources of free oxygen e. brief history of the earth II. Atmospheric Thermodynamics a. gas laws b. hydrostatic equation c. 1st law d. adiabatic processes e. water vapor f. static stability g. 2nd law III. Radiative Transfer a. quantitative description of radiation b. blackbody radiation c. scattering, absorption and emission d. radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres e. radiation balance IV. Atmospheric Chemistry a. sources, transport and sinks of trace gases b. some important tropospheric gases c. tropospheric aerosols d. air pollution e. tropospheric chemical cycles f. stratospheric chemistry V. Atmospheric Dynamics a. kinematics of large-scale horizontal flow b. dynamics of horizontal flow c. primitive equations d. atmospheric general circulation VI. Atmospheric Boundary Layer a. turbulence b. surface energy budget c. vertical structure d. evolution of boundary layer conditions e. localized boundary layer effects VII. Climate Dynamics a. present day climate b. climate variability c. climate equilibrium, sensitivity and feedbacks VIII. Laboratory – Analysis of Weather Systems a. map analysis of mid-latitude weather systems (4 labs) b. orographic effects (2 labs) c. dynamics and thermodynamic analysis of the atmosphere (3 labs) d. sever weather analysis (1 lab) e. tropical weather analysis (1 lab) f. air pollution (2 labs)