Chemistry of the atmospheric environment
| Title | Χημεία Ατμοσφαιρικού Περιβάλλοντος / Chemistry of the atmospheric environment |
| Code | ΦΠΕ207 |
| Faculty | Sciences |
| School | Physics |
| Cycle / Level | 2nd / Postgraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter/Spring |
| Coordinator | Prodromos Zanis |
| Common | No |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600022920 |
Programme of Study: PMS FYSIKĪ ATMOSFAIRIKOU PERIVALLONTOS KAI PAGKOSMIŌN METAVOLŌN
Registered students: 8
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KORMOS | Special Election | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Academic Year | 2025 – 2026 |
| Class Period | Spring |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Weekly Hours | 2 |
| Total Hours | 26 |
| Class ID | 600286460
|
Course Type 2021
Specialization / Direction
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600286460
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
- English (Examination)
Learning Outcomes
After succesfully completing the course, students will be able
to understand basic principles of tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry.
to understand atmospheric chemical mechanisms and use chemical box models.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
Course Content (Syllabus)
Evolution of the chemical composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Atmospheric chemical composition of the other planets in our solar system. Chemical thermodynamics and reaction kinetics. Chemical reaction mechanism and one-step reactions. Chemical equilibrium. Reaction rates. Order of chemical reaction. Photochemical reactions and processes. Chemistry and equilibrium of solutions. Solubility, weak and strong electrolytes. Acids and bases, pH scale and pH of water and droplets. PH of rain due to dissolution of CO2. Solubility of SO2 and oxidation in the liquid phase within cloud droplets. Oxidation of SO2 in the gas phase. Elements of tropospheric chemistry. Tropospheric ozone and the photochemical steady state O3-NO-NO2 and deviation from photochemical steady state. Oxidation of CO and hydrocarbons, free radicals (OH, HO2 and RO2) and nitrogen oxides NOx, NOz and NOy. Sensitivity of ozone to NOx and VOCs. Heterogeneous reactions, SO2 oxidation, acid deposition. Elements of stratospheric chemistry, stratospheric ozone, Chapman theory, Ox cycle and ozone depletion catalytic cycles (HOx, NOx, ClOx), effect of anthropogenic emissions of CFCs and halons, chemistry of the ozone hole.
Keywords
tropospheric chemistry, stratospheric chemistry
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Interactive excersises
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Description
1) All class material is available in electronic form to all students through the course web page. 2) The teacher communicates with students through e-mail.
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 78 | 3.1 | |||
| Reading Assigment | |||||
| Written assigments | 20 | 0.8 | |||
| Exams | 2 | 0.1 | |||
| Total | 100 | 4 |
Student Assessment
Description
Students assessment is based on a written examination (50%) and the writing and presentation of an essay on understanding atmospheric chemical models (50%)
Student Assessment methods
- Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Summative)
- Written Assignment (Summative)
- Performance / Staging (Summative)
- Written Exam with Problem Solving (Summative)
Bibliography
Additional bibliography for study
Ατμοσφαιρική ρύπανση, Φωτοχημικά μοντέλα ποιότητας του αέρα, Καραθανάσης Σταύρος Σ., Εκδόσεις Τζιόλα, 960-418-119-Χ, 2007. Ατμοσφαιρική Ρύπανση, Επιπτωσεις, Έλεγχος και Εναλλακτικές τεχνολογίες, Ιωάννης Β. Γεντεκάκης, Εκδόσεις Τζιολα, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1999.
Ατμοσφαιρική Ρύπανση με στοιχεία Μετεωρολογίας, Μιχάλης Λαζαρίδης, Εκδόσεις Τζιολα, Θεσσαλονίκη, 2005.
Χημεία περιβάλλοντος, Θ. Κουιμτζή, Κ. Φυτιανού, Κ. Σαμαρά, University Studio Press, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1998.
Μαθήματα Φυσικής της Ατμόσφαιρας και Φυσικής Περιβάλλοντος, Χρήστος Ζερεφός, ΑΠΘ, Θεσσαλονίκη, 1984.
Chemistry of Atmospheres, Richard P. Wayne, second edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1991.
Basic Physical Chemistry for the Atmospheric Sciences, Peter V. Hobbs, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Seinfeld J.H. and S.N. Pandis, Wiley, New York, 1998.
Air composition and chemistry, Peter Brimblecombe, Cambridge University Press, second edition, 1996
Chemistry of the Upper and Lower Atmosphere, Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts and James N. Pitts, Jr., Academic Press, 2000.
Last Update
20-10-2025
