Study Programmes 2016-2017
SPAT0055-1  
Atmosphere of the Earth
Duration :
30h Th, 15h Pr
Number of credits :
Master in space sciences (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Denis Grodent
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
Chapter I: Atmospheric structure
  • Hydrostatic equilibrium
  • Thermal structure
  • Convection, radiation, conduction
 
Chapitre II: Interactions of Solar radiation with the atmosphere
  • Solar radiation spectrum
  • Variability of the Sun's emissions
  • Radiative transfer equation and applications
  • Energy balance and climate
  • Greenhouse effect
 
Chapitre III: Photochemical processes and composition
  • Photochemical action of radiation
  • Photochemistry of the atmosphere
  • Ozone: production and destruction
 
Chapitre IV: Atmospheric transport
  • General equations of the atmospheric structure
  • Molecular and turbulent vertical diffusion
  • Movements in the troposphere and the stratosphere
 
Chapitre V: The Ionosphere
  • Formation and structure
  • Chemical composition
  • Neutrality and electric field
 
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
This course is meant to provide students with basic concepts of atmospheric physiccs. The common thread of the course is the vertical thermal profile of Earth's atmosphere. At the end of the course, students should be able to explain the overal shape of this thermal profile and to link it with the chemical composition and the energy balance of the atmosphere. 
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
It might be useful to follow course SPAT0040 (Fluid Mechanics)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face, power point presentations.
Recommended or required readings :
Printed course notes are available in french only
Updated Powepoint presentations may be downloaded from the eCampus website.
Assessment methods and criteria :
The exams are mainly meant to test the ability of the students to understand the physics behind the equations.These exams also appraise the overall knowledge of the course and the ability to link the different chapters.
Oral exam on the different lessons (2 questions). A list of questions will be distributed before the exams.
 
A written exam (problems solving) may be organized, depending on the amount of work done during tutorial classes. 
 
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
It is highly recommended to attend the classes.
 
Contacts :
Prof Denis Grodent d.grodent@ulg.ac.be
Laboratory for Planeatary and Atmospheric Physics
Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute
Université de Liège Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique Quartier AGORA (B5c) Allée du Six Août, 19C  B-4000 Liège, Belgium
phone: +32 4 366 9773 http://www.lpap.ulg.ac.be 50°34'55.9"N 5°33'55.8"E50.582194, 5.565510