Atmospheric Chemistry
| Module title | Atmospheric Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Module code | NSC3006 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
All of the major global environmental challenges of our time are mediated through the chemistry of the atmosphere: the global spread of air pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, and global climate change. This module is designed to explore the chemical and physical processes determining the composition of the atmosphere and its implications for climate, ecosystems, and human welfare. The goal is to provide you with a familiarity of concepts essential to an understanding of sources of atmospheric trace gases and particles, their chemical and physical transformations, their atmospheric effects, and their removal processes. The module provides an overview of current topics in atmospheric chemistry research This applied science module is aimed at Natural Science students.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of the module is to provide a working knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and applications to air pollution and climate change problems at local and global scales. Lecture materials and homework assignments strike a balance between principles of atmospheric science, tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry, insights on human disturbances to the atmosphere and climate, and perspectives on air pollution impacts on society. Additional goals of the course are: to learn ways in which atmospheric chemistry and climate models are used for decision-making and regulatory applications; to gain experience in handling air pollution data and climate model products; to increase proficiency in reading (and critiquing) primary literature in atmospheric chemistry. The module introduces you to current hot topics in atmospheric chemistry research including air pollution and climate change. You will learn about the tools required to study such issues, and explore how research can inform policy and practice.
You will develop the following graduate attributes:
- Team work in the tasks given for the assessments
- Applied thinking and problem solving – applying the knowledge you have gained to develop effective science-based solutions to air pollution and climate change problems
- People skills in communicating with peers
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe in detail basic atmospheric science and structure: pressure, temperature, density, layers, radiation, the greenhouse effect
- 2. Discuss physical chemistry, chemical kinetics, photodissociation, and photochemistry in the atmosphere
- 3. Evaluate atmospheric transport and the general circulation of the atmosphere
- 4. Evaluate the chemical origin of the stratospheric ozone layer and Analyse the chemistry of stratospheric ozone depletion
- 5. Summarise tropospheric chemical oxidation mechanisms, the formation of photochemical smog and ozone and discuss linkages between air pollution and climate change
- 6. Apply understanding of atmospheric aerosols: their chemical transformation, removal and radiative effects
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Demonstrate and apply a knowledge and understanding of atmospheric chemistry
- 8. Apply essential facts and theories of atmospheric chemistry
- 9. Evaluate aspects of current research in atmospheric chemistry with reference to textbooks and other literature sources
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Communicate ideas effectively and professionally by written means
- 11. Participate effectively and professionally in discussion of scientific ideas
- 12. Interact effectively in a group
- 13. Study independently
- 14. With limited guidance, select and properly manage information drawn from books and other literature sources
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Measures of atmospheric composition
- Atmospheric structure: pressure, density, temperature
- Atmospheric radiation, greenhouse effect
- Chemical kinetics, photodissociation, photochemistry
- Stratospheric chemistry
- Atmospheric transport
- Tropospheric chemistry
- Atmospheric aerosols
- Air pollution
- Climate change
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 17 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 5 | Workshops/problems classes |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation of continuous assessments |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Preparation for problems classes |
| Guided Independent Study | 68 | Guided reading of scientific literature and textbook references, plus revision |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problems classes | 5 x 1 hour | All | Oral and ELE solutions |
| Feedback via ELE forum | Ad hoc | All | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 60 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem sheet 1 | 20 | 1500 words | 1-10, 13-14 | Written and oral |
| Problem sheet 2 | 20 | 1500 words | 1-10, 13-14 | Written and oral |
| Examination | 60 | 2 hours | 1-10, 13-14 | Written and via tutor |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem sheet 1 | Examination | 1-10, 13-14 | August ref/def |
| Problem sheet 2 | Examination | 1-10, 13-14 | August ref/def |
| Examination | Examination | 1-10, 13-14 | August ref/def |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change, J.H. Seinfeld and S.N. Pandis, 3rd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 2016.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | NSC2002 Physical Chemistry and ECM2702 Differential Equations |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 06/01/2017 |
| Last revision date | 21/06/2018 |