Atmosphere of the earth and space environment

Duration

45h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Denis Grodent

Coordinator

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

PART 1 : Atmosphere of the Earth
Chapter I: Atmospheric structure

• Hydrostatic equilibrium
• Thermal structure
• Convection, radiation, conduction

• Solar radiation spectrum
• Variability of the Sun's emissions
• Radiative transfer equation and applications
• Energy balance and climate
• Greenhouse effect

• Photochemical action of radiation
• Photochemistry of the atmosphere
• Ozone: production and destruction

• General equations of the atmospheric structure
• Molecular and turbulent vertical diffusion
• Movements in the troposphere and the stratosphere

• Formation and structure
• Chemical composition
• Neutrality and electric field

• Observed parameters and main techniques
• Interaction of ELM waves with the atmosphere
• Micro-waves
• Weighting functions
• LIDAR

• Description, dipolar approximation, Gauss development
• Origin of internal and external components
• Time evolution and pole inversions

• Electron and proton motion in the geomagnetic field
• Longitudinal drift and related currents
• Origin and structure of the belts

• Solar eruptions: radiative and particle components
• Effects on the geomagnetic field
• Impact on space missions
• Solar wind and structure of the cavity
• Magnetic reconnection and auroral precipitation

• Composition and energy spectrum
• Solar cycle and perturbations

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course is meant to provide students with basic concepts of atmospheric physiccs and space environment. 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. They will learn how atmosphere evolves in time and space and will be introduced to the concept of remote sensing.
At the end of the course, students will also have acquired the basics of Earth's magnetic environment, of the radiation belts and the cosmic rays (astroparticles), of solar activity and its impact on space environment. With this knowledge, it will be possible to understand and to take into account the constraints imparted by space environment on Earth orbit and interplanetary space missions, particularly at the level of the design of space instruments.
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Good knowledge of general physics and its mathematical tools.

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.
The remote sensing section is based on the book: "Introduction to the physics and techniques of remote sensing", Elachi and van Zyl, 2nd edition, Wiley 2006.

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 (3 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
Prof Jean-Claude Gérard jc.gerard@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://lpap.ulg.ac.be 50°34'55.9"N 5°33'55.8"E50.582194, 5.565510

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