625-228 Atmospheric Environment Processes

Earth sciences 625-227.

The subject addresses the fundamental processes and variables of atmospheric dynamics, thermodynamics and energetics and shows how these both influence, and are influenced by, human activities. Topics include climatological implications of the Earth in orbit; fundamental atmospheric properties; observational methods; the basic governing laws of atmospheric behaviour: equations of motion and state, conservation of mass and energy; thermodynamics, clouds and precipitation; and radiation and global climate.

On completion of this subject, students should comprehend the fundamental processes of atmospheric thermodynamics, dynamics and energetics; have developed skills in personal weather observation and in the use of standard meteorological instruments; and appreciate the relationship between human activities and the state of the atmospheric environment.

Practical work; problem sheets; a 2-hour written examination.