ATMS 401 - Introduction to Atmospheric Physics

(4 units)

Atmospheric structure; global radiation balance; radiation scattering by gases and aerosol particles; introduction to radiation transfer; optical phenomena; atmospheric thermodynamics; cloud physics; aerosol mechanics; atmospheric electricity.

Maximum units a student may earn: 4

Prerequisite(s): PHYS 181 .

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 4
Offered: Every Fall

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. articulate an understanding of how basic physical principles, such as the laws of thermodynamics, Newton’s laws, conservation laws and electromagnetism, govern the structure and general circulation of the atmosphere.
2. demonstrate a quantitative understanding of the relationships among physical variables describing atmospheric structure and dynamics, such as temperature, pressure, density, and winds through application of algebra and simple calculus to their governing equations.
3. discover how modern data and methods of atmospheric research lead to physical understanding of publicly available data sets and/or modern numerical techniques.

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