Physics and chemistry of the atmosphere

ENV-320

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Course summary

PCA 2025 - Welcome!

Place and time:
Thursdays: 16:15 - 18:00, GCA330
Fridays: 11:15 - 13:00, GRB330
Travaux Practiques: see information in Section below

Grades:
Composition: 50% exam, 35% exercises, 15% lab session (travaux pratiques) including report.
Exercise assignment grading: 50% Physics, 50% Chemistry

Exam:
Closed book, no internet, no communication, cheat sheet with own notes (max. 2 sheets / 4 pages DIN-A4) allowed.
Exam questions will be more on basic understanding of concepts since you have done calculations, problems and programming during the exercises.

Resources:
John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs: Atmospheric Science, An Introductory Survey, available online and in the library:
- Free download (using EPFL network or VPN client): https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780127329512/atmospheric-science
- Library: http://library.epfl.ch/en/beast?isbn=9780127329512
John H. Seinfeld, Spyros N. Pandis.: Atmospheric chemistry and physics : : from air pollution to climate change
- Online version via EPFL library: https://epfl.swisscovery.slsp.ch/permalink/41SLSP_EPF/1g1fbol/alma9911670387200551

Teachers:
Michael Lehning, Julia Schmale, Athanasios Nenes, Hendrik Huwald

Teaching assistants:
- Physics: Dylan Reynolds, Anja Mödl, Arianna Bertolo, Leonard Lebrun
- Rad/Chem: Yolanda Temel, Berkay Dönmez
- Lab course: Brandon van Schaik, Arianna Bertolo, Leonard Lebrun, Berkay Dönmez
- Clouds: Berkay Dönmez

LAB SESSION (travaux pratiques)

Teacher: Hendrik Huwald
Lab sessions are hold on campus. Participation is a mandatory part of this course and content is part of the final written exam.
There will be 3 identical lab sessions, each student participates in only ONE session (not every week).
Tentative dates (subject to change) are given below.
Session A*, Friday 28.03.2025, 14:15-18:00,  GR-C0-528. Report submission deadline: Monday 07.04.2025
Session B*, Friday 04.04.2025, 14:15-18:00,  GR-C0-528. Report submission deadline: Monday 17.04.2025
Session C*, Friday 11.04.2025, 14:15-18:00,  GR-C0-528. Report submission deadline: Monday 28.04.2025
* Session participants will be assigned once the exact number of course students is known.
An introduction will be given at the beginning of the lab session, please be on time.
Please install "FlirONE" (AppStore or GooglePlay) on your Smartphone and "Arduino IDE" on your laptop prior to the Lab Session.
Please bring: (1) your laptop, (2) your smartphone, (3) a paper notebook and pen/pencil.


        

        
        

        
1: Introduction, Thermodynamics and Flows

        

            
Teacher: Michael Lehning

Zoom for Polls and Questions: 236 757 724

Part I: Overview, Thermodynamics and Vertical Structure
Reading: Chapter 1.3.2 - 1.3.6 and Chapter 3.1 - 3.2.1, 3.3.2 3.4 - 3.4.3, 3.5 - 3.5.4, 3.6


Part II: Introduction to Atmospheric Motions


        

        
        

        
2: Atmospheric Dynamics

        

            
Teacher: Michael Lehning
Introduction to Dynamic Meteorology


Reading: Chapter 7.1 to 7.2.6 without p. 273 and box 7.1; Chapter 7.3 is optional but 7.3.6 highly recommended

        

        
        

        
3: The Atmospheric Boundary Layer

        

            
Teacher: Michael Lehning
Chapter 9.1 to 9.5 without 9.1.6 / 9.3.5 plus the Write-up provided below

        

        
        

        
4: Global Circulation and Weather Systems

        

            




Teacher: Michael Lehning
Chapter 8.1.1 and 8.1.2, optionally 8.4; all Chapter 8 if you are really into it







        

        
        

        
5: Radiative Transfer Principles

        

            




Teacher: Julia Schmale
Zoom link for lecture
https://epfl.zoom.us/j/65296099495?pwd=MDFGaEhMYUlFRFlGVVJ0cEJxc3ZpQT09
Radiation in the Atmosphere: An Introduction and Overview
Reading: Wallace and Hobbs, Chapter 4.1 to 4.3
Recording: 




        

        
        

        
6: Atmospheric Radiation and Energy Balance

        

            




Teacher: Julia Schmale
Important note: The radiative forcing part of the slides was not given in the lecture and will therefore not be part of the exam. 





        

        
        

        
7: Atmospheric Chemical Composition 

        

            
Teacher: Julia Schmale
Atmospheric Composition: Based on Wallace and Hobbs chapters 2.3 (carbon
 cycle), 2.4 (atmospheric oxygen), 5.6.1 (nitrogen cycle), 5.6.2 (sulfur
 cycle), 5.1 (composition of tropospheric air; residence time analysis),
 5.2 (sources/sinks/atmospheric processes)



        

        
        

        
8: Stratospheric Chemistry + Tropospheric Chemistry

        

            


Teacher: Julia Schmale
IMPORTANT notice on the schedule, 2 lectures this week: 
10.04.2025, 16:15 -  18:00 Lecture on stratospheric chemistry - slides in this moodle week
11.04.2025, 11:15 - 13:00 Lecture introduction to tropospheric chemistry - slides in next moodle week
Stratoshperic Chemistry: Based on Wallace and Hobbs chapter 5.7
Tropospheric Chemistry: Based on Seinfeld and Pandis, 2006




        

        
        

        
9: Tropospheric chemistry & Aerosols 

        

            
Teacher: Julia Schmale
IMPORTANT notice on schedule: 
No Exercises on 18.04.2025; Good Friday


        

        
        

        
10: Exercises Only

        

            TAs are taking the lead this week. 

IMPORTANT notice on the schedule:
01.05.2025, Exercises
02.05.2025, Exercises




        

        
        

        
11: Aerosols

        

            
Teacher: Julia Schmale

Aerosols sections based on Wallace and Hobbs chapter 5.4, and other books. See lecture slides.

        

        
        

        
12: Clouds

        

            
Wallace and Hobbs Chapter 6 (warm cloud processes)
Lecturer: Athanasios Nenes
Zoom link for class lecture : https://epfl.zoom.us/j/8070824601

        

        
        

        
13: Clouds

        

            
Wallace and Hobbs Chapter 6 (cold cloud processes)
Lecturer: Athanasios Nenes
Zoom link for class lecture : https://epfl.zoom.us/j/8070824601