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701-1234-00L 3 Credits MSC , DR D-USYS , D-ERDW
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Tropospheric Chemistry

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Dominik Wilhelm Brunner, Dr. Imad El Haddad
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:08:16

Abstract

The course gives an overview tropospheric chemistry, which is based on laboratory studies, measurements and numerical modelling. The topics include aerosol, photochemistry, emissions and depositions. The lecture covers urban-regional-to-global scale issues, as well as fundamentals of the atmospheric nitrogen, sulfur and methane cycles and their contributions to aerosol and oxidant formation.

Objective

Based on the presented material the students are expected to understand the most relevant processes responsible for the anthropogenic disturbances of tropospheric chemical composition. The competence of synthesis of knowledge will be improved by paper reading and student's presentations. These presentations relate to a particular actual problem selected by the candidates.

Content

Starting from the knowledge acquired in lecture 701-0471, the course provides a more profound view on the the chemical and dynamical process governing the composition and impacts of air pollutants like aerosol and ozone, at the Earth's surface and the free troposphere. Specific topics covered by the lecture are: laboratory and ambient measurements in polluted and pristine regions, the determination of emissions of a variety of components, numerical modelling across scales, regional air pollution - aerosol, and photooxidant in relation to precursor emissions, impacts (health, vegetation, climate), the global cycles of tropospheric ozone, CH4, sulfur and nitrogen components.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Lecture presentations are available for download.

Literature

D. Jacob, Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry http://acmg.seas.harvard.edu/publications/jacobbook Mark Z. Jacobson: Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modelling, Cambridge University Press John Seinfeld and Spyros Pandis, Atmosperic Chemistry and Physics, from air pollution to Climate Change, Wiley, 2006.

Learning Materials (Links)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC , DR
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
oral 30 minutes
The final grade is determined by: Oral exam (2/3) and presentation (1/3, compulsory continuous performance assessment). Additionally the final grade can be improved (up to 0.25 grade points) by two learning tasks.The language of the oral exam can be changed to German (request of student)Compulsory continuous performance assessment:One student presentation. For the presentation the students (groups of 2 or 3) select a topic from a list, prepare a 20 minutes presentation (based on a literature search).Voluntary Learning tasks:One modelling exercise on photochemical limitation regimes.Three paper discussions. The students will have one month time to collectively comment on a paper using tools for online collaboration andfeedbacks. The students’ comments will be finally discussed during the lecture.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Tropospheric Chemistry
  • Fri 14:15-16:00 (CHN D 44)
2 h weekly

Offered In