EV431
AIR: Atmospheric Physics & Chemistry

Tentative Syllabus
Block 5, 2008

updated February 13, 2008



Howard Drossman
&
Jim Benedict


 
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References

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Day
Time
Topic
Reading & Homework

Week 1
Atmospheric Dynamics

1
AM

Weather
Atmospheric Pressure/Structure (worksheet)

Weather Systems & Cyclones (worksheet)

Weather Map A; Weather Map B

L.C. Ch. 1-2

HW: Dynamics PS#1

PM

Math Review (Calculus (worksheet) & Vectors: L.C. Ch. 2)


2
AM

Properties of Fluids

Potential Temperature (worksheet)

Virtual Temperature (worksheet)

Continuity Equation (HW Problem)

L.C. Ch. 3

HW: Dynamics PS#2

PM

Lab 1: Instrument Calibration (Filters)

Intro to 2007 Report Critique, Final Projects and Health Brief

Projects Page Readings

3
AM

Lab 2: Sonde Launch 2

Fundamental Forces (Part I)
Pressure Gradient Force (worksheet)

L.C. Ch. 4

HW: Dynamics PS#3

PM

Lab 1: Instrument Calibration (Anions, NOx)

 
4
AM

Fundamental Forces (Part II)

Coriolis Force (worksheet)

Stability (worksheet)

 

L.C. Ch. 4

HW: Dynamics PS#4

PM

Senior Seminars (3-5 PM) TSC 122

 
5
AM

Navier Stokes Equations & Scale Analysis (notes)

Geostrophic Flows (worksheet)

 

L.C. Ch. 5, 6.3-4; Jacobs 4

HW: Dynamics PS#5

PM

Lab 1: Instrument Calibration (Cations, Gamma Counting)

Lab Assignment
Sample Calibration Plot

 

Week 2
Dynamics, Modeling & Atmpospheric Chemistry

1
AM

 

Moist Processes

Adiabatic Lapse Rate (notes)

Skew T Diagrams (worksheet); Skew T-1; Skew T-2

Moist Skew T (worksheet); Omaha Skew T diagram

Skew-T blank sheets

L.C. Ch. 11

Jacob Chapter 4
HW: Dynamics PS#6

PM

Intro to Forecasting & Forecasting Contest (1-2 PM)

Forecasting Worksheet

Forecasting Website

2
AM

Clouds (worksheet) / Mountain Simulation

Inversions (worksheet)

General Circulation Model

L.C. Ch. 11

Jacob Chapter 4

HW: Dynamics PS#7

PM

Chemistry Review

Lewis structures (handout), Radicals (worksheet) ;

EM Radiation (handout)

HW/Reading (Chem PS#1)
3
AM

Simple Models

One Box Models (worksheet)

Two Box Models

Jacob Chapter 3

HW: Dynamics PS#8

PM

Campus Sustainability Kickoff (1-5 PM)

Lab Measurements (Anions, Cations, NOx)



4
AM

Chemistry Fundamentals & Intro to Complex Systems

On-line Atmospheric Chemistry Tutorial

Atmospheric Concentrations (worksheet)

Reaction Rates (worksheet) 

Interaction of Light with Matter (worksheet)

Jacob Chapter 1

Jacob Chapter 9

HW/Reading (Chem PS#2)

STELLA Chapman Model

PM

Lab Measurements (Anions, Cations, NOx)

5
AM

Interaction of Light with Matter (cont.)

Steady State & Pressure Effects (worksheet)

Chapman Reactions (worksheet)

O Species Concentrations (spreadsheet)

HW/Reading (Chem PS#3)
Jacob Chapter 10 ; pp.164-172

STELLA Chapman Model

PM

Physics Review Session (Optional)

Weekend Take-Home Exam

Exam Map

Skew-T blank sheets

Week 3
Atmospheric Chemistry

1
AM

Stratospheric O3: Catalytic Mechanisms
Catalytic Cl Chemisry (worksheet)

Cl Partitioning (worksheet)

Jacob Chapter 10, pp.

HW/Reading (Chem PS#4)

STELLA Chapman Model

PM

Lab 3: Data Assignments (~1-1:30 PM)

STELLA Assignment Help (Optional: in Barnes Comptuer Lab)

Lab Report Guidelines; Anion Data Sheet

Cation Data Sheet; XRF Data Sheet

NOx Data; Filter Mass Data

Anion Mass Data; Cation Mass Data

2
AM

Antarctic Ozone Depletion: Aerosols & Polar Stratospheric Clouds

Stratospheric O3: TOMS Data: Ozone Web Site
Polar Vortex (worksheet)
Chemistry of Ozone Hole (worksheet)

STELLA Chapman Model Due

HW/Reading (Chem PS#5) 
Jacob Chapter 10, pp. 179 - 191

PM
STELLA Assignment Help (optional)
 
3
AM

Upper Troposphere I (worksheet)

HW/Reading (Chem PS#6)
Jacob, Chapter 11 , pp. 200 - 206

STELLA Air Pollution Model

PM
STELLA/Lab Help (optional)
4
AM

N Biogeochemistry & Atmospheric N Cycling (worksheet)

HW/Reading (Chem PS#7)
Jacob, Chapter 11, pp. 207 - 218

STELLA Air Pollution Model (cont.)

PM

STELLA/Lab Help (optional)

5
AM

Air Pollution

Smog City
Lower troposphere ozone formation (worksheet)

Ozone Isopleths

Jacob, Chapter 12

STELLA Air Pollution Model

PM

Chemistry Review Session (optional)

Health Briefs Due (5 PM)

Take-Home: Chemistry Exam

Week 4
Final Projects

1
AM

Final Projects: Measurements

Aerosol Seminar: CC alumna Misha Schurman (CSU)

Report  Template
PM
Final Projects: Measurements
PILS Data; Gas Data; Size Data; Wind Data; Traffic Data; AM Sonde Data; PM Sonde Data ; Temp Data; Ave. Gas Data
2
AM
Final Projects: Data Analysis
 
PM
Final Projects: Data Analysis
 
3
AM

Final Project Reports Due

Student Presentations

Jim Research Presetation

Weather Forecast Results

Class Evaluation