Undergraduate Course: Atmospheric Physics (METE10002)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Meteorology |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | 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 (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Mathematics for Physics 4 (PHYS08038)
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | In addition to passing Mathematics for Physics 4 a further 30 credits at level 9/10 from schedule Q or N is also required |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Atmospheric Physics | 2:00 | | |
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
WebCT enabled: No |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | 14:00 - 14:50 | | | | | King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | | 14:00 - 14:50 |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Atmospheric Physics | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will have a detailed, integrated knowledge and understanding of atmospheric thermodynamics and dynamics and it is intended that a student will be able to:
- describe in detail 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
- critically 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 various sources of atmospheric aerosols
- have a critical understanding of 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.
- make decisions where information is limited or comes from a range of sources.
Students will also be expected to offer professional level insights and critically identify and analyse complex problems as part of the degree exam. |
Assessment Information
Examination at the end of First Semester - December
|
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | MYAP4 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Richard Essery
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Helen Mckeating
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: |
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