Atmospheric Physics (U01864)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : GEO-4-MYAP

Atmospheric thermodynamics and dynamics are initially reviewed, then the spatial and temporal structure of the atmospheric boundary layer is studied, beginning with a dry convective layer and then considering a cloud-topped layer.
The second half of the course considers the physics of atmospheric aerosols, in particular how aerosols are involved in the formation of clouds, how aerosols and clouds interact with radiation, how aerosols affect climate, and how aerosols act as air pollutants.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : At least 40 points at level 9/10 from schedule Q, OR at least 40 points at level 9/10 from schedule N which must include Mathematical Methods for Geophysicists (U01800).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Meteorology, (School of GeoSciences, Schedule N)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
23/09/2008	14:00	15:00	Lecture Room 3218, JCMB	KB

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	14:00	14:50	KB
Lecture	Friday	14:00	14:50	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, it is intended that a student will be able to:
- describe the spatial and temporal variation of typical convective and stable boundary layers in terms of temperature, moisture content and winds
- explain the physical processes that give rise to these structures
- understand the nature of turbulent fluxes of heat and moisture and derive their variation with height, given temporal changes of structure in simple situations
- determine the static and dynamic stability of atmospheric layers
- discuss the sources and sinks of turbulent kinetic energy
- describe the components of the surface energy balance and their diurnal variation
- understand the principles of instruments used for boundary layer measurements
- describe the various sources of atmospheric aerosols
- understand the processes (formation, growth, removal) that lead to observed aerosol size distributions in different environments
- describe the physics of homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation
- understand the physics described by Kohler curves, and how aerosols can become cloud condensation nuclei
- describe the physics of how cloud droplets grow by condensation and collision
- understand how aerosols interact with solar and terrestrial radiation
- understand how aerosols can modify clouds
- understand the concept of radiative forcing, in the context of how aerosols affect climate, and be able to compare the anthropogenic climate forcing from aerosols with that from greenhouse gases
- understand how aerosols act as air pollutants, and how air pollution can be modelled