Course GEOF220

Physical Meteorology

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Current semester
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Current programmes of study

Course offered by

Number of credits	10
Course offered (semester)	Spring
Schedule	Schedule
Reading list	Reading list

Introduction
Course description

Language of Instruction

English

Pre-requirements

Principles of meteorology.

Learning Outcomes

After finishing the course, the student should be able to:

- give an overview of the global energy balance of our planet, with special focus on the radiation and corresponding cloud effects

- explain the physical processes by radiative transfer of solar radiation and terrestrial radiation through the atmosphere (scattering, absorption, emission) and the effect of the surface on the radiation

- give a detailed description of the effect of radiation on the climate of our planet and explain the different feedback mechanisms

- explain the effect of radiation on natural and anthropogenic climate changes

- apply the basic laws of thermodynamics for the derivation of the set of equations required to describe the microphysics of condensation and droplet formation

- describe the chain of creation of hydrometeors in the atmosphere from the initial condensation on aerosol particles to falling rain and snow and explain the related physical processes

- describe the common methods and instruments for precipitation measurement and discuss the uncertainties related to those measurements

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Language of Instruction

English

Aim and Content

GEOF220 aims to give the students a basic knowledge of the physical processes with regard to solar and terrestrial radiation, condensation, cloud formation and precipitation and their interactions in the earth-atmosphere system.

In the radiation part, an overview of the global energy balance of our planet is first given. In the course, the processes connected to radiative transfer of solar radiation and terrestrial radiation in the atmosphere and the radiative effect of the surface of our planet are also discussed. It is also focused on the climate effect of the radiation processes in the atmosphere and at the surface. Here, the radiative effect of the different feedback mechanisms and the effect of radiation on natural and anthropogenic climate changes are important issues. The cloud physics part shortly introduces and repeats the thermodynamic basics and their application in atmospheric science. The concept of atmospheric stability and air parcel behaviour is introduced to describe the atmospheric forcing leading to condensation. A short introduction in aerosol particles and their function as cloud condensation nuclei is given. The chain of hydrometeor creation is described and the relevant physical processes are introduced, including the derivation of the main equations. It starts from the initial condensation and diffusional growth at aerosol particles and continues with further growth mechanisms, including the involvement of the ice phase and collision and coalesence. At the end, relevant measurement methods and instrumentation are introduced and discussed in particular with respect to measurement uncertainties.