Specific Foundation / Core

After successfully completing the course, the students - acquire scientific knowledge on current global environmental issues - acquire basic background that facilitates them to continue to postgraduate studies

Spatial and temporal scales of atmospheric processes. Mechanisms of emission and removal of atmospheric constituents. Life time. · Global circles of atmospheric constituents that contain sulphur, nitrogen, halogen and carbon. · Introduction to the ozone layer. Mechanisms of ozone production and destruction. Dynamics of the ozone layer. · Depletion of the ozone layer. Periodic changes. Long-term trends. · Global changes of atmospheric transmission due to aerosols. Size distribution of particles. Classification of Particles. · Aerosol optical properties. Phase function. Aerosol effects on surface albedo. · Emission of radiation from the Sun. Solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere (spectral characteristics and temporal changes). · Factors that affect the transition of the solar radiation through the atmosphere. Spatial and temporal changes of solar radiation reaching the ground. · Chemical and photochemical processes in the atmosphere. Photolysis rate of atmospheric molecules (calculation and measurement). Biological effects of solar ultraviolet radiation (calculation of the absorbed dose, measurements). · Emission and propagation of the earth’s radiation through the atmosphere. Calculation of the absorbed and transmitted radiation flux. · Climate change. The Earth’s energy balance. Natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect. · Solar flux changes and climate forcing. Anthropogenic changes of radiation effective atmospheric constituents and effects on radiation fluxes. · Solar activity and effects on the atmosphere and the Earth’s climate.

31-08-2016