Fundamentals of dynamics of fluids. Structure, circulation and dynamics in the atmosphere. Radiative equilibrium. Energy distribution. The climate. Greenhouse effect. Stratospheric ozone. Diffusion, thermal conductivity. Hydrogeological cycle. Solvent properties and anomalies. Solutions properties. Thermal stratification and convective turn-over. Ocean currents. El Niño. Ocean acidification.
A.A. Tsonis, “An introduction to atmospheric thermodynamics” – Cambridge Univ. Press
M.J. Jacobson, “Fundamentals of atmospheric modeling” – Cambridge Univ. Press
D. J. Jacob “Introduction to atmospheric chemistry” – Princeton University Press
S. Emerson, J. Hedges, "Chemical Oceanography and the Marine Carbon Cycle" - Cambridge Univ. Press
R. Stewart, "Introduction to Physical Oceanography"
Learning Objectives
Physico-chemical key concepts for the description of the processes and mechanisms that involve the environmental systems, in particular the atmosphere and the hydrosphere.
Prerequisites
Courses required: none
Courses recommended: none
Teaching Methods
Total number of hours for Lectures (hours): 48
Type of Assessment
oral exam
Course program
Fluid dynamics: Stevin law, buoyancy, Bernoulli law. Structure and composition of the atmosphere. The Earth magnetic field. Lower and upper atmosphere circulation. Dynamics of the atmosphere. Winds. Coriolis acceleration. Cyclostrophic and Geostrophic phenomena. Thermodynamics of the atmopshere. Energy balance of the Earth. Radiative equilibrium temperature. Energy distribution on the Earth. Definition and kinds of climate. Climate variations and factors that affect the climate on the astronomic and planetary scale. Mechanism of the greenhouse effect. Effects of pollution. Global warming. Stratospheric ozone: Chapman cycle and effect of pollution. Diffusion: definition, Fick’s laws, transport of polluting agents. Thermal conductivity: definition and relevance for the environment.
Distribution and types of water on the planet. Hydrogeological cycle. Physico-chemical properties of water. Anomalies due to the hydrogen bonding. Solvent properties. Thermal stratification and convective turn-over. The oceans. Structure and composition.Physico-chemical properties of seawater. Ocean currents. The Ekman pump. El Niño: description and mechanisms. The acidification of the oceans.