MT2ACT-Atmospheric Chemistry and Transport

Module Provider: Meteorology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: A-level chemistry or equivalent
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Bill Collins
Email: w.collins@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
This module builds on the first year Global Environmental Chemistry developing the concepts of chemical and physical processing of atmospheric pollutants and their transport in the atmosphere from local to global scales.

Aims:

To help the student attain an understanding of the processing and transport of gaseous and aerosol pollutants, and the consequences for their distributions on local and global scales. The processes discussed include photochemistry, anthropogenic and biogenic emissions, wet and dry deposition. The transport mechanismsÌýinclude micro-scale, meso-scale, synoptic-scale and global-scale processes.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, the student should be able to:

• Explain the chemical and physical processing of atmospheric pollutants;

• Utilise rate equations to determine how composition changes;

• Demonstrate understanding of the transport mechanisms affecting the distribution of chemicals and aerosols in the atmosphere;

• Describe how clouds interact with chemicals and aerosols.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

• Transport mechanisms: from local to global scales within the boundary layer, free troposphere and stratosphere;

• Emissions, deposition and mixing of chemicals and aerosols;

• Chemistry of the troposphere;

• Stratospheric ozone depletion;

• Anthropogenic and biogenic emissions;

• Chemistry in clouds.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The course material will be taught based on two lectures per week. A number of problem sheets, with opportunity for discussion during classes, will help students to test their understanding of the course material and prepare them for the final exam.