ATMS 501 Fundamentals of Physics and Chemistry of the Atmosphere
Autumn Quarter 2001
MTWThF 9:30-10:20 ATG 310C
J.M. Wallace
Office: 106 King Building
Email: wallace@atmos.washington.edu
Phone: 543-7390
- Introduction: Composition and and structure of the atmosphere and overview of the physical and chemical processes that determine it. Comparison between the Earthıs atmosphere and the atmospheres of the other planets. Interplay between chemistry, physics and fluid dynamics in planetary atmospheres. Interactions between the atmosphere and other components of the earth system. Human and other external influences on the climate system. Feedbacks. The 'Gaia Hypothesis'. (2 class sessions)
- Atmospheric thermodynamics: Gas laws. The hydrostatic equation and its applications. The First Law of Thermodynamics. Latent heats and enthalpy. Adiabatic processes in the atmosphere. Thermodynamics of moist air. The concept of static stability. The Second Law of Thermodynamics and Entropy. (10 class sessions)
- Atmospheric chemistry: Evolution of the composition of the atmosphere over the history of the Earth. Half life, residence time and renewal time of chemicals in the atmosphere. Present chemical makeup of the atmosphere. Sources, transformation, transport, and sinks of chemicals in the troposphere. Atmospheric aerosols. Tropospheric chemical cycles (C, N, S). Air pollution. The stratospheric ozone layer. (16 class sessions)
- Cloud Physics: Nucleation of water vapor condensation. The microstructure of warm clouds. Growth of cloud droplets in warm clouds. The microphysics of cold clouds. Thunderstorms. Cloud morphology. Organization of precipitation in severe convective storms, hurricanes and extratropical cyclones. (3 class sessions)
- Radiative Transfer: The spectrum of radiation. Absorption and emission of radiation by gas molecules. Quantitative description of radiation. Blackbody radiation. Absorptivity and emissivity. Atmospheric absorption of solar radiation. Atmospheric absorption and emission of infrared radiation. Scattering of solar radiation. (12 class sessions)
- Synthesis and applications: The global energy balance. The stratospheric ozone layer revisited. The diurnal and seasonal cycles. Climatic change. (6 class sessions)
Class Format: Daily lectures/ discussions. Weekly 1/2 hour quizzes (normally on Fridays). Final exam. Course grade based 2/3 on cumulative point score on weekly quizzes and 1/3 on final exam.
Text : J.M. Wallace and P.V. Hobbs, 1977: Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey. Academic Press 467pp.
Additional notes will be provided for Section 3.