Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:59
Spectroscopy, radiative transfer and retrieval methods are rapidly growing fields with extreme importance in atmospheric and planetary science. They are fundamental to study weather, climate, air quality on Earth, the evolution of greenhouse gases and biogeochemical cycles on Earth. They provide information about the physics and evolution of the atmospheres of the solar system planets and exoplanets at a larger scale. This course will provide the fundamental knowledge to a depth that will leave a student with the background to perform quantitative research on atmospheres. It spans across principles through applications, with sufficient background for students without prior experience in spectroscopy or radiative transfer.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Remote sensing and modelling, and retrieval of the atmospheric composition of the planets require detailed knowledge of how radiation and matter interact in planetary atmospheres. In particular, one should know: (i) how stellar or thermal radiation propagates through atmospheres: (ii) how that propagation affects radiative forcing of climate; (iii) how atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases produce unique spectroscopic signatures; and (iv) how the properties of atmospheres may be quantitatively measured how those measurements relate to physical properties.
The course will be accompanied by the development of increasingly sophisticated atmospheric and spectroscopic modelling capability. The students will develop practical computer model simulation of atmospheric Earth/Solar System planets/exoplanet spectra from microwave through ultraviolet, depending on their interests.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Assessment component A Lab book with exercises submitted online. Individual feedback online, general in tutorials.
Assessment - week 3 of 1st sub-session Feedback - week 4 of 1st sub-session |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analysis of measurements and comparison with models. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Use of radiative transfer models and retrievals. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Understand relation between radiation and climate |
| Conceptual | Apply | Understand the fundaments radiation and spectroscopy. |
| Reflection | Create | Enhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Assessment component C Review of paper as per International Journal. Assessment - End of course, so after feedback on first two exercises, whichever is earlier. Feedback - End of course |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Create | Enhance visual presentation skills. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluation of practical retrieval of atmospheric species. |
| Reflection | Create | Enhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills. |
| Reflection | Create | Challenging published investigations and interpretations against one’s own observations and deductions. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Assessment component B Assessment - week 5 of 1st sub-session Feedback - week 7 of 1st sub-session |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analysis of measurements and comparison with models. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Understand relation between radiation and climate |
| Conceptual | Apply | Understand the fundaments radiation and spectroscopy. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Use of radiative transfer models and retrievals. |
| Reflection | Create | Enhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Original element weightings |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Understand the fundaments radiation and spectroscopy. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Understand relation between radiation and climate |
| Conceptual | Apply | Use of radiative transfer models and retrievals. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analysis of measurements and comparison with models. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluation of practical retrieval of atmospheric species. |
| Reflection | Create | Challenging published investigations and interpretations against one’s own observations and deductions. |
| Reflection | Create | Enhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills. |
| Procedural | Create | Enhance visual presentation skills. |
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