AOSC620
Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry
Tuesday/Thursdays 2-3:15pm Room: CSS 2416
Credits:
3 Instructor: Profs. Ning Zeng, Russ Dickerson, Ross Salawitch and Dr. Tim
Canty. Course web:
http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~zeng/AOSC620
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Outline
Fundamentals of atmospheric physics: light, sound, cloud, lightning,
precipitation. Air
parcel thermodynamics and stability; constituent thermodynamics and
chemical
kinetics. Cloud and aerosol physics and precipitation processes.
Troposphere and stratosphere chemistry.
Syllabus (Corresponding
to the chapters of Wallace and
1. Introduction (1
week)
Basics
Physical properties of the atmosphere
Atmosphere composition
mass, optical properties, vertical structure, winds,
clouds,
precipitation
2. Atmosphere in the Earth system (1-2 weeks)
Ocean
Land
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Evolution of the atmosphere: rise of the oxygen, Phenerozoic, glacial cycles, Holocene
Hydrological cycle
Carbon cycle
3. Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3-4 weeks)
Ideal gas law
The hydrostatic equation
The first law of thermodynamics
Adiabatic processes
Water vapor in air
Static stability
The second law of thermodynamics and entropy
4. Radiative Transfer (This
will be taught in AOSC621 in depth) (1 lecture)
Greenhouse effect, 1-layer model
Earth's Energy balance
5. Atmospheric Chemistry (Lectures by Professors
Ross Salawitch, Russ Dickerson) (3
weeks)
Tues, Sept 23: Russ Dickerson - Chemical
Thermodynamics
Thur, Sept 25: Russ Dickerson- Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry
will cover
material posted at
http://www.meto.umd.edu/~zli/METO620/index.php?dir=&file=05_chemical_thermodynamics.ppt
Tues, Sept 30: Tim Canty - Introduction to Photolysis
Thurs, Oct 2: Ross Salawitch - Introduction to Chemical Kinetics
Tues, Oct 7: Ross - Current Topics in Stratospheric Chemistry
Thurs, Oct 9: Tim - Current Topics in Tropospheric Chemistry
6. Cloud microphysics (2-3 weeks)
Nucleation of water vapor condensation
Microsturctures of warm
clouds
Cloud liquid water content and entrainment
Growth of cloud droplets in warm clouds
Microphysics of cold clouds
Artificial modification of clouds and precipitation
Thundersotrm
electrification
Cloud and precipitation chemistry
7. Atmospheric Dynamics
8. Weather Systems
9. Atmospheric Boundary Layer
10. Climate (1 week)
Selected topics on how atmosphere physics/chemistry
are
important in climate. Examples:
Cloud-climate feedback
Can geoengineering
work to mitigate climate change?
Grading Method
Students will be evaluated based on two exams (50%),
homeworks+reading/presentation (30%), and a project (20%).
Books
Atmospheric Science, an Introductory Survey, John M. Wallace
and
Peter V. Hobbs
(Required)
SHORT COURSE IN CLOUD PHYSICS ISBN 978-0-7-5063215-7
ROGERS 85.95
64.45 (Optional)
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY+PHYSICS 978-0-4-7172018-8
SEINFELD 121.95
91.45 (Optional)
Instructor:
Prof. Ning
Zeng
Office: CSS 2417
Phone: (301)
405-5377 Fax: (301) 314-9482
Email: zeng@atmos.umd.edu
http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~zeng/
Office Hour
Tuesdays 3:15-5 or drop by as long as my office door is open