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MN-GM-METCHEM

Specialisation Module: Atmospheric Chemistry
Identification number
MN-GM-METCHEM
Workload

180 h
Credit Points

6
Term
1st - 3rd Semester
Offered Every

year
Start

WiSe
Duration

1 semester
1 Course types
a) Lecture
b) Exercise
Contact time
30 h
30 h
Private study
60 h
60 h
2 Module objectives and skills to be acquired
  • Comprehension of how physical/chemical processes affect composition and changes of the atmosphere
  • Knowledge of several trace substance cycles
  • Comprehension of spatial and temporal gradients of trace substances
  • Application of reaction mechanisms on the decomposition of trace substances 
  • Acquired skills are computer practice, general comprehension of systems, critical assessment and discussion of scientific work
3 Module content
  • Chemical elementary reactions
  • Chemical composition of the atmosphere
  • Photochemistry
  • Biogenic and anthropogenic emissions
  • Atmospheric deposition processes
  • Climate efficiency of trace gases
  • Aerosol chemistry and physics
  • Atmospheric distribution of trace substances
  • Trace substance cycles of CO, methane, hydrocarbons, sulfur compounds, nitric oxides
  • Chemistry of the hydroxyl radical
  • Formation of ozone in the troposphere
  • Stratospheric ozone chemistry
4 Teaching methods

Lectures and exercises
5 Prerequisites (for the module)

None
6 Type of examination

Report with written elaboration. Each student reports on a specific topic of atmospheric chemistry in a seminar talk of 30 - 45 min duration, followed by an interactive discussion. In addition, he or she elaborates the contents of the talk in a written report of not more than 12 pages. Report and written elaboration are graded as a whole, this grade is the module grade.
7 Credits awarded

The module is passed, and the credit points will be awarded, if
  1. the report with written elaboration is passed, and
  2. the exercises are passed; the acquisition of 50% of the points to be achieved is sufficient for this
8 Compatibility with other curricula

This module can be utilised in the IMES course. Suitable as an elective course for mathematics, physics, and geoscience students.
9 Proportion of final grade

Weight of the module grade in the overall grade: 6/150 (4 %)
10 Module coordinator

Alexandra Tsimpidi
11 Further information

Version: 2023-03-23