Undergraduate Course: Earth's Atmospheric Composition (EASC10098)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The chemical composition of the atmosphere is important for understanding Earth's climate. We will explore the chemical composition of the atmosphere, with an emphasis on the troposphere that includes the air in which we live and breathe, and the surface processes and atmospheric chemistry and transport that determine its variability. We will cover the fundamentals of atmospheric chemistry (kinetics, photolysis, spectroscopy) so there is no chemistry pre-requisite to this course. The course, as described below, is focused on delivering content using online material, in-class interaction, problem sets and additional reading. |
| Course description |
Week 1
Introduction; atmospheric properties; chemical kinetics.
Week 2
Stratospheric chemistry.
Week 3
Tropospheric chemistry 1: Electromagnetic spectrum; hydroxyl radical; oxidation of methane and carbon monoxide; and cycling of hydrogen oxides.
Week 4
Tropospheric chemistry 2: Nitrogen oxides; tropospheric ozone; ozone formation and control strategies.
Week 5
Tropospheric chemistry 3: Surface emissions and deposition processes.
Week 6
Tropospheric chemistry 4: Aerosols.
Week 7
Atmospheric chemistry and transport; inverse models.
Week 8
Global carbon cycle; CH4 and N2O bio-geochemical cycles; isotopes.
Week 9
Chemistry-climate interactions; air quality.
Week 10
Reserved for completing research essay.
The content ordering of this course may change, although the content will remain the same.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Earth Modelling and Prediction 2 (EASC08018)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | The Course Organiser will consider suitable courses equivalent to Earth Modelling and Prediction 2 (EASC08018). |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the role of atmospheric transport, land-surface processes, and atmospheric chemistry on observed atmospheric composition.
- Be able to perform and interpret quantitative calculations associated with measurements of atmospheric composition.
- Appreciate how atmospheric chemistry transport models are formulated, and understand simplified inverse models.
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Reading List
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, Jacob (Recommended)
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Seinfeld and Pandis
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Paul Palmer
Tel: (0131 6)50 7724
Email: Paul.Palmer@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Sarah Thomas
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: Sarah.Thomas@ed.ac.uk |
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