PH4640 Introduction to Atmospheric Physics ... (3,0,0) f (alternate years) ... 3 Cr

Next possible offering Fall, 2008.

Text (Fall, 2006):

• An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics, David G. Andrews (ISBN 0521629586)

• Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics, M. L. Salby (ISBN 0-12-615160-1)

Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey, J. M. Wallace and P. V. Hobbs, Academic Press 1977
The Physics of Atmospheres, J. T. Houghton, 2nd ed., Cambridge Univ. Press 1986

I. Preliminaries: Atmospheric composition, equilibrium temperatures, hydrostatic equation, etc.

II. Radiative transfer: blackbody radiation, absorption and emission, greenhouse effect, radiative equilibrium.

III. Atmospheric Thermodynamics: Ideal gas law, water vapor, Clausius-Clapeyron equation, vertical motion, adiabatic lapse rate, potential temperature.

IV. Clouds and Precipitation: nucleation of water and ice, growth processes, atmospheric optics, atmospheric electricity.

V. Back to Radiative Transfer: Solar radiation and modifications due to scattering, aerosol scattering, ozone absorption, global radiation budget.

VI. Atmospheric Dynamics: Continuity and Navier-Stokes equations, rotating coordinate systems, geostrophic balance, thermal wind, midlatitude cyclones, the general circulation.

VII. Middle and Upper Atmospheres: temperature structure, ozone layer, hydrogen escape, energy balance.