Course Details
Subject {L-T-P / C} : ER4211 : Physics of Atmosphere { 3-0-0 / 3}
Subject Nature : Theory
Coordinator : Jagabandhu Panda
Syllabus
| Module 1 : |
Atmosphere and its origin; State of the atmosphere; Constituents of air and atmospheric composition; Structure of Atmosphere; Gas laws; Ideal gas Law; Temperature; thermodynamics systems and variables. |
| Module 2 : |
Thermodynamics of dry air; Equation of state; Expansion of gas under constant pressure; Law of conservation of energy; Specific heats of a gas; First law of thermodynamics; Adiabatic process in the atmosphere; Potential temperature; Equation state of dry air; Poisson’s equation for dry air; Alternative forms of the energy equation; Entropy; Reversible and irreversible processes; Enthalpy. |
| Module 3 : |
The thermodynamics of water vapour and moist air; Water in the atmosphere: three states of water substances; The Classius and Clapeyron equation; Equation of state for water vapour; Moisture variables (Absolute humidity, specific humidity, relative humidity, mixing ratio); Virtual temperature; Lifted condensation level; equivalent potential, and wet bulb temperatures; Moist adiabatic lapse rate Environmental lapse rate; Standard atmosphere; Hydrostatic equilibrium; Hydrostatic equation; Vertical stability of the atmosphere; Dry adiabatic lapse rate; Standard adiabatic lapse rate; Equilibrium states; The parcel method and its application; The slice method. |
| Module 4 : |
Thermodynamic diagrams; General considerations for thermodynamic diagrams; The Emagram; The Tephigram; The Skew T-Log p Diagram |
| Module 5 : |
Radiation concepts; Nature of radiation and electromagenic spectrum; Black-body Radiation; Geographical and Seasonal Distribution of Solar Radiation; Terrestrial Radiation; Radiation budget |
Course Objective
| 1 . |
To impart knowledge relating to atmospheric thermodynamics and radiation. |
| 2 . |
Preparing the students with basic knowledge of atmospheric sciences so that they would be ready for advanced courses relevant to the programme. |
| 3 . |
Preparing the students with relevant knowledge relating to atmospheric thermodynamics and radiation concepts so that they will be able to qualify national level exams and succeed in the future interviews for research positions. |
Course Outcome
| 1 . |
By the end of this course students will be able to understand the atmospheric composition, structure and primary variables and their variations relating to Earth’s atmosphere and some idea about other planetary atmospheres. |
| 2 . |
By the end of this course students will have an appreciable understanding regarding thermodynamics of dry and moist air. |
| 3 . |
By the end of this course students will have introductory ideas about thermodynamic diagrams. |
| 4 . |
By the end of this course students will have reasonable idea about radiation concepts and atmospheric radiation budget. |
| 5 . |
By the end of this course students will be ready for studying the other courses like satellite meteorology, tropical meteorology, applied meteorology in the subsequent semesters. |
Essential Reading
| 1 . |
Chandrasekar A., Basics of Atmospheric Science, PHI Learning Private Limited |
| 2 . |
Hess S. L., Introduction to Theoretical Meteorology, Krieger Publishing Company Malabar, Florida |
Supplementary Reading
| 1 . |
Roland B. Stull, Meteorology (for scientists and engineers), Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning |
Journal and Conferences
| 1 . |