ATMS/CHEM 458 Global Atmospheric Chemistry

Autumn 2007


General Information


Instructor: Joel Thornton, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences

Schedule: MWF 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM; Tu* 10:30 AM – 12:20 AM; 610 ATG Building
*Watch for announcements on the course web site about this meeting time

 

Grading:

 

Problem Sets and Data Analysis Labs (about 6 in number): 60%
Final Project: 25% Review Paper or NSF-like Proposal

            Participation: 15% Presentations/Discussions of Hot Topic papers

 


Contact Information


Office: 506 ATG Building
Tel: 543-4010
joelt@u.washington.edu
Office hours: to be arranged at the second lecture

 

Class Web Site: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/2007Q4/458/index.html

 

NOTE: Please contact me if you have any questions. Conceptual issues are best handled in person (after class, office hours, or by special appointment).

 


Textbooks


The required textbook for the course is:
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, D.J. Jacob, Princeton University Press

 

Other excellent references are: (Books 1-4 are on reserve in the chemistry library)
1. Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, P.V. Hobbs Cambridge University Press
2. Chemistry of Atmospheres, R. Wayne; Oxford University Press
3. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, from Air Pollution to Climate Change,
J.H.    Seinfeld and S.N. Pandis, Wiley-Interscience

4. Chemistry of the natural atmosphere,  Peter Warneck

5. Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere, Finlayson-Pitts and Pitts, Academic Press

 


Lectures


This is a rough outline for where we are heading. We will cover some topics in more detail than others, and the time frames will be flexible. We will also have the opportunity to discuss current scientific literature in each topic area.

 

Week 1           Fundamentals: Sources, Removal, Lifetime

 

Weeks 2-3      An Earth System Perspective: the Atmosphere in Climate and Biogeochemical Cycles

 

Weeks 4-6      Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: Development of a detailed understanding

 

Weeks 7-8      Tropospheric Pollution: The connection between local and global processes

 

Weeks 9-10    Aerosols, Clouds, and Acid Deposition