Atmospheric structure
What processes determine the properties of the atmosphere around us? We start out from basic physics and chemistry to gain knowledge about the structure, composition and energetics of the atmosphere.
Central building blocks are mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetic radiation and basic chemical concepts. Their interplay is needed to quantitatively describe the state of the atmosphere and the altitude variation of key quantities like temperature, pressure, composition, radiative fluxes and stability. Of particular interest for structure and energetics is the role of water vapour and related condensation and evaporation processes. The interaction of short- and longwave radiation with various species leads us to an analysis of the Earths radiation budget and important concepts like the greenhouse effect. Beyond its focus on atmospheric processes, the course also provides a first insight in the vertical structure of the oceans, contrasting their thermodynamic properties to those of the atmosphere. As an important application of radiative processes, the course includes an introduction to remote sensing. thus highlighting important tools for acquiring data about the atmosphere, oceans and climate. While this course focuses on the processes that define the vertical structure of the atmosphere, the subsequent course MO4006 Fundamental dynamics (15 credits) will extend this knowledge to structure and motion in three dimensions.
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Course structure
Teaching format
The course consists of lectures, exercises and laborations.
Course materials
Grading criteria, course literature and other material related to the course will be available on the course Athena-site at https://athena.itslearning.com once you have registered for the course.
Assessment
Examination is done by written tests.
Examiner
Here is a link to a list of course coordinators and examiners.
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.You can search for schedules from previous years in TimeEdit, by entering the course code.
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
Module 1: Atmospheric composition and thermodynamics
- John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs: Atmospheric Science, An Introductory Survey, 2nd edition, Academic Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780127329512. Chapters 3 and 5.
- Additional reading: Rodrigo Caballero, Physics of the Atmosphere, IOP Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-7503-1052-9. Chapters 1-3. (Online version available at SU: https://iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/978-0-7503-1052-9.)
Module 2: Radiation and remote sensing
- John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs: Atmospheric Science, An Introductory Survey, 2nd edition, Academic Press, 2006. ISBN: 9780127329512. Chapter 4.
- Additional reading: Rodrigo Caballero, Physics of the Atmosphere, IOP Publishing, ISBN: 978-0-7503-1052-9. Chapter 5. (Online version available at SU: https://iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/978-0-7503-1052-9.)
- Current research articles about remote sensing. (Provided by MISU)
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Contact
Study counselor
