EV 431 - Air: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry: Introduction to atmospheric circulation, radiation transfer, Coriolis force and thermodynamics as they determine the horizontal movement and vertical structure of the atmosphere.   Kinetics, modeling, and reaction systems as they relate to air pollution and ozone chemistry in the stratosphere and troposphere.   Course includes a student-designed laboratory/field project related to local air pollution issues.   Prerequisite: EV majors: EV 212 and (EV 222 or EV 221), statistics recommended; EV Chemistry and Chemistry majors: CH 108 and PC 241; EV Physics and Physics majors: PC 251, 1 unit

2006: Veirs & Bower

2007: Drossman & Van Roekel

2008: Drossman & Benedict

2009: Drossman & Wells

2010: Drossman & McGrath-Spangler

The overall goal of this class is to develop a better grasp of systems thinking by seeing how multiple parameters link in cause and effect. We also hope that as the EV major capstone science experience, this class will help you enhance your abilities in quantitiave skills, critical thinking skills, ability to read the scientific literature and present scientific data through the context of learning the science underlying air pollution, learn the difference between global atmospheric issues and local air quality issues as they appear here in Colorado Springs and connect this to public health and/or public policy. By developing such a "sense of place", of how systems work and how smaller ones are embedded in larger ones, we want you to learn insights and skills that you will be able to apply in other places and in other environmental situations.

Specific Learning Objectives:

• Understand how the physics organizes our thinking about the transport of air pollutants both at the global and local scale.
• Understand how chemistry organizes our thinking about systems of chemical reactions as air pollutants are emitted, transported, and transformed.
• Read and understand the literature of atmospheric science.
• Predict the weather and think differently about the outdoor environment.
• Program simple computer models to visualize and predict atmospheric dynamics and chemisty and hence allow the examination of alternate future scenarios.
• Understand methods of calibration and accurate data collection for air pollution measurements
• Compare air pollution datasets to deepen our understanding of physical and chemical interactions and transformations in the air.
• Design and carry out experiments to deepen our understanding of air pollution.
• Integrate public policy and/or public health with atmospheric science to evaluate a real-world air pollution system.

ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING

There will be two exams: the first exam will focus on atmospheric physics and the second will focus on the atmospheric chemistry, possibly through literature-based problems and modeling.

A substantial all-class/small group project on a local air quality issue is required. It will be ongoing throughout the class and due on the end of the course. Details on format, timetable and rubrics for assessment are included in the Projects section of the web site and will be updated by teh end of the first week.

About 15 homework and lab assignments will be made during the block.

Grades will be weighted as follows:

Projects (group and individual): 20%

• Calibration Project & 2007 Report Critique
• Final Report
• Final Presentation

Problems (group & individual): 40%

• Worksheets (group): 10%
• Homework (individual w/ discussion allowed): 30%

Exams (individual): 40%

• Exam 1 (Physics; individual): 20%
• Exam II (Chemistry; individual): 20%