Atmospheric Chemistry

Abstract

This course provides a general introduction into atmospheric chemistry targeted at master students who did not follow the bachelor course "atmospheric chemistry" or equivalent.

Objective

The learning target of this course is a general overview on the most important processes of atmospheric chemistry and the various problems of the anthropogenic impact on the chemical composition of the atmosphere and air quality.

Content

- Origin and properties of the atmosphere: structure, large scale dynamics, UV radiation - Thermodynamics and kinetics of gas phase reactions: enthalpy and free energy of reactions, rate laws, mechanisms of bimolecular and termolecular reactions. - Tropospheric photochemistry: Photolysis reactions, photochemical O3 formation, role and budget of HOx, dry and wet deposition - Aerosols and clouds: chemical properties, primary and secondary aerosol sources, phase transfer kinetics, solubility and hygroscopicity, N2O5 chemistry, SO2 oxidation, secondary organic aerosols - Air quality: role of planetary boundary layer, summer- versus winter-smog, environmental problems, legislation, long-term trends - Stratospheric chemistry: Chapman cycle, Brewer-Dobson circulation, catalytic ozone destruction cycles, polar ozone hole, Montreal protocol - Global aspects: global budgets of ozone, methane, CO and NOx, air quality - climate interactions

Resources