2023-2024 / SPAT0048-5

Earth's atmospheric and space environment

Space environment

Applied space environment

Duration

Space environment : 15h Th
Applied space environment : 15h Pr

Number of credits

 Master in space sciences (120 ECTS)3 crédits 

Lecturer

Space environment : Denis Grodent
Applied space environment : Denis Grodent

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Space environment

Space Environment (Introduction to Space Weather)

Chapter I : The solar wind

Chapter II : The geomagnetic field

Chapter III : The magnetosphere

Chapter IV : Charged particles motions

Chapter V : Storms and aurorae

 

Applied space environment

Personal research on a topic to be agreed on. A long list of recent scientific research papers will be proposed to the students. These papers are either directly or indirectly connected with space weather. This will allow students to appreciate the recent progresses that have been made in the ever growing fields of space weather and space environment and to see how research is conducted in these fields.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Space environment

This course is meant to provide students with basic concepts space environment. At the end of the course, students will have acquired the basics of Earth's magnetic environment, of the radiation belts and the cosmic rays, 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.


This course contributes to the following (standard) learning outcomes:

  • Master the concepts, principles and laws of the basic sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing, etc.).
  • Demonstrate autonomy in their learning. In particular, be able to appropriate and synthesise scientific and technical information from a variety of sources (ex-cathedra presentations, literature, references, technical manuals and documentation, online resources, etc.).
  • Formalise, model and conceptualise a scientific or technical problem related to or inspired by a complex real-life situation in a rigorous language, for example using mathematical or computer language, in order to obtain results. Be capable of abstraction.
  • Analyse hypotheses and results critically and compare them with practical reality, taking account of uncertainties.
  • Apply advanced aeronautical and/or space technology techniques to the fields of propulsion and turbomachinery, theoretical and experimental aerodynamics, flight mechanics, aerospace structures, satellite engineering, atmospheric physics and space instrumentation.
  • Work independently.
  • Present/defend scientific or technical results orally, using codes and means of communication appropriate to the audience and the context of the communication.

Applied space environment

See section above

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Space environment

Good knowledge of general physics and its mathematical tools.

It is highly recommended to first take the course "Atmosphere of the Earth" (SPAT0048 partim 1, or SPAT0055).

Applied space environment

Good knowledge of general physics and its mathematical tools.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Applied space environment

Personal research on a topic to be agreed on. 

See "Learning unit contents".

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Space environment

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Mainly face-to-face, powerpoint presentations.
A recorded version (podcasts MP4) of all lectures is available on Vimeo (links provided).

Applied space environment

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Mainly face-to-face, powerpoint presentations.
A recorded version (podcasts MP4) of all lectures is available on Vimeo (links provided).

Recommended or required readings

Space environment

Updated Powepoint presentations may be downloaded from the eCampus website.

Reference book (optional):

"Understanding Space Weather and the Physics Behind It" D.J. Knipp, 2011, McGraw-Hill, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-340890-3

Applied space environment

Updated Powepoint presentations may be downloaded from the eCampus website.

Reference book (optional):

"Understanding Space Weather and the Physics Behind It" D.J. Knipp, 2011, McGraw-Hill, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-340890-3

Space environment

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Additional information:

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.

In case of remote oral examination, use of MS Teams or Skype (backup solution).

Applied space environment

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Additional information:

The oral exam consists of the presentation of the article analysed in French or in English.

Students have about 15 minutes to present the content of the article, what they have learned from it, and to try to relate it to the material presented in the course.

A few questions will be asked about the article and the material seen in the course. The evaluation will be based on:

- the mastery of the material presented,

- the highlighting of links with the course,

- the quality and care of the presentation and

- the relevance of the answers to the questions.

 

In case of remote oral examination, use of MS Teams or Skype (backup solution).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Space environment

It is highly recommended to attend the face-to-face classes.

There may be some slight differences between the actual face-to-face lessons and the corresponding videos.

Applied space environment

It is highly recommended to attend the face-to-face classes.

There may be some slight differences between the actual face-to-face lessons and the corresponding videos.

Contacts

Space environment

Prof Denis Grodent d.grodent@uliege.be
Laboratory for Planeatary and Atmospheric Physics
Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute

Universite´ de Lie`ge
Institut d'Astrophysique et de Ge´ophysique Quartier AGORA (B5c)
Alle´e du Six Aou^t, 19C
B-4000 Lie`ge, Belgium

phone: +32 4 366 9773

Office: B5c (Astrophysique et Géophysique) - 0/5

Applied space environment

Prof Denis Grodent d.grodent@uliege.be
Laboratory for Planeatary and Atmospheric Physics
Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute

Universite´ de Lie`ge
Institut d'Astrophysique et de Ge´ophysique Quartier AGORA (B5c)
Alle´e du Six Aou^t, 19C
B-4000 Lie`ge, Belgium

phone: +32 4 366 9773

Office: B5c (Astrophysique et Géophysique) - 0/5

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