NKEK11002U Changed: Atmospheric Environmental Chemistry
MSc Programme in Chemistry with a minor subject
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
Atmospheric Chemistry; from air pollution to climate change
The course covers seven topics:
1) Atmospheric photochemistry and kinetics,
2) Stratospheric chemistry
3) Tropospheric chemistry
4) Aqueous chemistry
5) Particles
6) Deposition and Modeling
7) Climate
Competencies
The student should have a feeling for the orders of magnitude of
values commonly found in atmospheric chemistry including for
example concentrations of important radicals and trace gases,
pressures and temperatures, the density of an atmospheric particle,
NOx levels.
The student should be able to describe the fate of a number of
chemicals (that are part of the pensum) when they are emitted into
the atmosphere, to know their sources and have a feeling for their
lifetime and effects on the local and global environment.
The student should be able to discuss climate change and account
for the mechamisms and causes of anthropogenic climate change.
Skills
Describe radiative balance including the properties of solar and
earthly emission of light. Describe the greenhouse effect and know
the most important greenhouse gases. Describe the kinetics and
mechanism of the degradation of different chemicals in the
atmosphere. Describe the systems of reactions in the troposphere
and stratosphere including sources, initiation, propagation,
termination, sinks, radical families. Describe the sources,
transformations and fate of atmospheric particles
Knowledge
The student should:
-possess general background knowledge of atmospheric chemistry.
-be able to account for the most important chemistry occuring in
the troposphere.
-be able to describe stratospheric chemistry and the mechanisms
underlying ozone formation and destruction
-be able to write the mechanisms for deposition of gasses and
particles
-know the chemistry occurring in water droplets and account for the
physical chemistry that determines how well a given chemical is
taken up into the liquid phase
-know the principles governing particle formation, growth and fate
in the atmosphere
-be able to draw a figure showing different classes of particle
sizes found in the atmosphere and be able to describe their
sources, lifetimes and key chemical components.
-be able to discuss climate change including the mechanisms and
causes of anthropogenic climate forcings
To achieve the grade of 12 the student should master the material and goals described in the course description and that are part of the exam with no or only a few minor mistakes. The student should demonstrate understanding of the physical and chemical processes underlying atmospheric properties. The student should demonstrate understanding of specific formulas with relevant units, and chemical reaction equations. The student should know of any relevant assumptions behind these equations. The student shall demonstrate an overview of the subject and be able to explain connections between the seven topics. The student should be able to explain the flow of chemicals and material through the atmospheric environment from emission to deposition, and evaluate the environmental impact locally and globally. The student should have a feeling for which parts of the subject are well known and which are less well developed.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics by J. H. Seinfeld and S. N. Pandis, Third Edition, Wiley, 2016, and articles.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 28
- Preparation
- 149
- Theory exercises
- 21
- Guidance
- 7
- Exam
- 1
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 min (no preparation time)---
- Aid
- Written aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Same as original exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See learning outcomes
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NKEK11002U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- C
- Course capacity
- No admission restriction
- Course is also available as continuing and professional education
- Study board
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- Department of Chemistry
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Matthew Stanley Johnson (3-747a71476a6f6c7435727c356b72)
Lecturers
Matthew Johnson, msj@chem.ku.dk