Meteo 465/565 -- Middle Atmospheric Meteorology/Physics of the Upper Atmosphere (really The Middle Atmosphere) -- Spring. 2003
(http://www.ems.psu.edu/~brune/m465/m465s03.htm)

Instructor:

William H. Brune

506 Walker Building

865-3286

brune@essc.psu.edu

Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00-12:00

Lectures and discussions:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:10-11:00, 110 Walker Building

Course Objective:

to learn about the processes that shape today's middle atmosphere -- the composition, radiation, dynamics, chemistry, and exchange with the troposphere and thermosphere.

Course Approach:

This course will be a combination of lectures, discussions, and student-lead discussions.  Problems and additional readings with questions will be assigned.  The exams will be a mid-term exam and a final exam.  At least one will be an open-book take-home exam.  The student-lead discussions, which will occupy about half a class period, will be interspersed with my lectures so that they augment the topic being discussed at that time.

Lectures and discussions will be at a level appropriate for both undergraduates and graduate students.  However, I expect the graduate students to tackle harder subjects for their discussions (but still presented at a level appropriate for all) and to do a little more on the exams and problems.

Course Outline

A. A general overview of the middle atmosphere

  1. Why do we care about Earth's middle atmosphere?
  2. Pressure
  3. Temperature
  4. Winds
  5. Composition -- gases and aerosol particles

B.  Chemical concepts

  1. Thermodynamic considerations
  2. Kinetic theory
    1. collision theory, mean free path
    2. chemical kinetics -- reactions
    3. chemical kinetics -- reaction rates, multiple reactions, lifetimes
  3. Interaction of atoms and molecules with light
    1. atomic spectroscopy
    2. molecular spectroscopy
    3. photolytic processes

C.  Radiative processes

  1. Solar radiation
    1. the sun, the solar spectrum
    2. attenuation of solar radiation in the atmosphere
    3. scattering by molecules and aerosol particles
  2. A review of radiative transfer
  3. Infrared radiation
  4. Heating and cooling in the middle atmosphere
  5. Photolysis

D.  Photochemistry

  1. Details of atmospheric composition
  2. Chemistry of the tropics and middle latitudes
    1. simple ozone balance
    2. chemical families -- oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, halogens
    3. catalytic ozone destruction
    4. sulfur chemistry -- aerosol formation
    5. heterogeneous chemistry
  3. Chemistry of the wintertime polar regions
    1. conditions unique to the polar regions
    2. chemistry unique to the polar regions

E.  Structure and dynamics

  1. Basic dynamics applied to the middle atmosphere
  2. General circulation
  3. Waves
    1. review of general wave theory
    2. thermal tides
    3. planetary waves
    4. gravity waves
    5. inertio-gravity waves
    6. equatorial waves
  4. Extratropical planetary-scale circulations
  5. Equatorial circulations
    1. Quasi-Biennial Oscillation
    2. Semiannual Oscillation
  6. Tracer transport
  7. Statosphere-troposphere exchange

F.  Ions in the middle atmosphere

  1. Details of the ionic composition
  2. Ion sources
  3. Ion chemistry
  4. Interaction between atmospheric ions and radio waves

G.  Major research problems in the middle atmosphere

Grading

  • problem sets 20%
  • in-class participation 5%
  • mid-term exam 25%
  • final exam 30%
  • leading a discussion 20%

 

You may work together on homework if it helps you understand the material better.  However, you must work alone on the exams so that I can evaluate your learning of the material.

References

You will receive copies of articles to read and study.  In addition, the scientists at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have put together an electronic textbook, which is at: http://see.gsfc.nasa.gov/edu/SEES/strat/class/S_class.htm  .  While I will not be following this exactly, and it is too basic in some parts, it is none-the-less a useful reference.

Manuscripts about the stratosphere

Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange – Holton et al.

Stratospheric Chemistry – Perspectives in Environmental Chemistry - Brune

Stratospheric Transport – Plumb

 

Other useful internet sites:

1. Goddard Space Flight Center Atmospheric Chemistry: http://toms.gsfc.nasa.gov/ozone/ozone.html

2. EPA homepage: http://www.epa.gov/

3. NOAA homepage: http://www.noaa.gov/index.html

4. NOAA Aeronomy Laboratory homepage: http://www.al.noaa.gov/

5. UNEP/WMO 1998 Stratospheric Ozone Assessment: http://www.a http://www.al.noaa.gov/WWWHD/pubdocs/Assessment98.htmll.noaa.gov/WWWHD/pubdocs/Assessment98.html

6. Chemical kinetics data from JPL: http://jpldataeval.jpl.nasa.gov/

 

References on atmospheric chemistry with some basics on chemistry and radiation:

1. Aeronomy of the Middle Atmosphere, Brassuer and Solomon, QC881.2.S8B73 1986.
2. Perspectives in Environmental Chemistry, Donald Macalady, ed, TD193.P45 1997.
3.  Middle Atmosphere Dynamics, Andrews, Holton, and Leovy, QC881.2.M53A53 1987.
4.  Atmospheric Chemistry, Finlayson-Pitts and Pitts, QC879.6.F56 1986.
5. Chemistry of the Atmospheres, Wayne, QC879.6.W39 1991.
6. Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1998, WMO, 1999.

References on chemical kinetics:

1. Chemical kinetics, Laidler, QD501.L17 1987.
2. Kinetics and dynamics of elementary gas reactions, IWM Smith, QD501 1980.
3. Thermochemical kinetics, Benson, QD511.B48 1976.
4. any physical chemistry and many chemistry texts

References on radiation and molecules:

1. Photochemistry of Small Molecules, Okabe, QD708.2.033 1978.
2. Spectra of Diatomic Molecules, Herzberg, 1950.
3. any of a number of atomic and molecular spectroscopy books

General references:

1. Chemical Kinetics and Photochemical Data for Use in Stratospheric Modeling, Demore et al., JPL Publication 94-26 1994.
2. U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976, NOAA, 1976.

Useful journals:

Aerosol Science; Atmospheric Chemistry; Atmospheric Environment; Environmental Science Technology; Geophysical Research Letters; Journal of Atmospheric Science; Journal of Geophysical Research; Nature; Science

Figures

mean vertical pressure and density

mean vertical temperature structure

mean potential temperature and potential vorticity

mean meridional temperature structure

mean temperatures determined by radiative equilibrium

potential temperatures of the troposphere, lowermost stratosphere, and stratosphere

geometric, geopotential, and log pressure heights

a schematic of stratospheric circulation – lower stratosphere

a schematic of stratospheric circulation – middle atmosphere

mean zonal winds at solstice

mean equatorial winds - QBO

transition for homosphere to heterosphere

evidence for uniform mixing of gases below 100 km – CFC-11 & CF4

electron densities in the ionosphere

aerosols in the stratosphere

mean molecular speed vs. altitude

mean free path and speed of sound vs. altitude

collision frequency vs. altitude

ozone production rates

ozone profile - Chapman mechanism vs reality

absorbers_vs_altitude

solar spectrum

height of maximum energy deposition

absorption cross sections of O2 and O3

solar heating

heating and cooling vs altitude

infrared absorbers

infrared upward and downward fluxes

meridional infrared cooling

radiative, transport, and photochemical lifetimes

 

Notes

Pressure and Temperature

Winds and density

Composition

Chemical concepts

Photochemistry and photolysis

More photochemical concepts

Chemistry of the tropical and midlatitude stratosphere

Chemistry of the springtime polar stratosphere

Stratospheric heating and cooling

Stratospheric dynamics

Homework Questions and Problems

Problem set #1 – due 3 February

Problem set #2 – due 3 March

Solutions to Homework Questions and Problems

Problem set #1 – solutions

Problem set #2 – solutions

 

Possible Topics for Student-Led Discussions
 

Examinations

Take-home, open-book midterm exam - due 24 March

Take-home, open-book midterm exam - solutions

Take-home, open-book final exam - due 9 May