University of Liege | Version française
Study programmes 2008-2009Last update : 29/06/2009
SPAT0034-1  Earth's and planetary atmospheres
Duration :  30h Th, 15h Pr
Credits/ECTS :  
Master in Space Sciences, Research focus, 1st year5
Holder(s) :  Jean‑Claude Gérard
Language :  Langue française
Course contents :  The course is divided into five chapters:

- introduction : hydrostatic equilibrium, thermal structure, interplanetary space.
- Sun-atmosphere interactions: solar radiation, variability, radiative transfer, climate and pleoclimate
- Tropospheric chemistry: basic concepts of photochemistry, ozone, HOx, NOx, ClOx, catalytic cycles, tropospheric chemistry
- Transport: general equations, diffusion, circulation, thermal escape
- The ionsophere: formation and composition
Course objective :  Introduction to general concepts of external geophysics: knowledge of basic atmospheric physics and applications to environmental problems.
Prerequisites :  Classic notions in general physics, atomic and molecular physics and classical mechanics
Workshops :  - Guided applications: solution of problems

- Videos on selected topics
Organization :  Theoretical course: 15 ex-cathedra lectures (2 hours each), 1st quadrimester
Practical training and exercises:
- 2 sets of lecture illustrations (video cassettes commented to the students).
- 4 sets of exercise and problem solving illustrating the main concepts.
Written notes :  A 165 page textbook
References :
- G. Kockarts : aéronomie, coll. Bibliothèque des universités
- J. Chamberlain and D. Hunten, Theory of Planetary atmospheres, international geophysics series, academic press
- G.P. Brasseur, J.J. Orlando and G.S.Tyndall, atmospheric chemistry and global change, Oxford university press,
and review papers circulated among students
Assessment :  - oral examination

- written examination: definitions, resolution of exercises
Contacts :  J.C. Gérard and the instructor in charge of exercises
Laboratoire de Physique Atmosphérique et Planétaire - Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique - Bât. B5C
17, allée du 6 Août - 4000 Liège (Sart Tilman) - Phone : 04/366.97.75 / E-mail : JC.Gerard@ulg.ac.be


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