Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2017

Atmospheric and Climate Science Master Information
Course Units for Additional Admission Requirements
The courses below are only available for MSc students with additional admission requirements.
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-0412-AALClimate Systems
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-3 credits6RR. Knutti
AbstractIntroduction of the most important components of the climate systems and their interactions.
ObjectiveStudents have a basic understanding of the global energy balance, radiation budget, boundary, layer, atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, land-surface coupling, cryosphere, carbon cycle, climate variability, climate of the past and anthropogenic climate change, and they are able to apply this to solve simple quantitative problems and answer qualitative questions.
Lecture notesCopies of the slides are provided in electronic form.
LiteratureA comprehensive list of references is provided in the class. Two books are
particularly recommended:
- Hartmann, D., 1994: Global Physical Climatology. Academic Press, London, 411 pp.
- Peixoto, J.P. and A.H. Oort, 1992: Physics of Climate. American Institute of Physics, New York, 520 pp.
Prerequisites / NoticeTeaching: Reto Knutti, several keynotes to special topics by other professors
Course taught in german, slides in english
701-0471-AALAtmospheric Chemistry Information
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-3 credits6RD. W. Brunner, M. Ammann
AbstractThis is a self-study course targeted at Master students who did not follow the bachelor course "atmospheric chemistry" or similar. The course provides a general introduction into atmospheric chemistry.
ObjectiveThe learning target of this lecture is a general overview on the most important processes of atmospheric chemistry and the various problems of the anthropogenic change in the structure of Earth's atmosphere.
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
- Multiphase chemistry: heterogeneous 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
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic courses in chemistry and physics are expected
701-0475-AALAtmospheric Physics
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-3 credits6RA. A. Mensah
AbstractThe fundamental background of cloud and precipitation formation (including thermodynamics and aerosol physics) and their relevance for climate are discussed.
ObjectiveThe students can appreciate the processes leading to cloud and precipitation formation and their importance for climate.
This lecture is the prerequisite for the MSc lectures cloud microphysics and cloud dynamics.
ContentMoist processes/thermodynamics; aerosol physics; cloud formation; precipitation processes, storms; importance of aerosols and clouds for climate; measurements of clouds (radar and satellites)
Lecture notesPowerpoint slides and script will be made available
LiteratureRogers and Yau, A Short Course in Cloud Physics, Pergamon Press, 1989;
Wallace and Hobbs, Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey, Elsevier, 2006
701-0473-AALWeather Systems Information
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-3 credits6RM. A. Sprenger, C. Grams
AbstractSatellite observations; analysis of vertical soundings; geostrophic and thermal wind; cyclones at mid-latitude; global circulation; north-atlantic oscillation; atmospheric blocking situtations; Eulerian and Lagrangian perspective; potential vorticity; Alpine dynamics (storms, orographic wind); planetary boundary layer
ObjectiveIntroduction to basic aspects of atmospheric dynamics. Focus is given to the global-scale atmospheric circulation, synoptic-scale processes (in particular low-pressure systems), and the influence of mountains on the atmospheric flow.
ContentSatellite observations; analysis of vertical soundings; geostrophic and thermal wind; cyclones at mid-latitude; global circulation; north-atlantic oscillation; atmospheric blocking situtations; Eulerian and Lagrangian perspective; potential vorticity; Alpine dynamics (storms, orographic wind); planetary boundary layer
Lecture notesLecture notes and slides
LiteratureAtmospheric Science, An Introductory Survey
John M. Wallace and Peter V. Hobbs, Academic Press
701-0461-AALNumerical Methods in Environmental Sciences Information
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-3 credits6RC. Schär, O. Fuhrer
AbstractThis lecture imparts the mathematical basis necessary for the development and application of
numerical models in the field of Environmental Science. The lecture material includes an introduction into numerical techniques for solving ordinary and partial differential equations, as well as exercises aimed at the realization of simple models.
ObjectiveThis lecture imparts the mathematical basis necessary for the development and application of
numerical models in the field of Environmental Science. The lecture material includes an introduction into numerical techniques for solving ordinary and partial differential equations, as well as exercises aimed at the realization of simple models.
ContentClassification of numerical problems, introduction to finite-difference methods, time integration schemes, non-linearity, conservative numerical techniques, an overview of spectral and finite-element methods. Examples and exercises from a diverse cross-section of Environmental Science.

Three obligatory exercises, each two hours in length, are integrated into the lecture. The implementation language is Matlab (previous experience not necessary: a Matlab introduction is given). Example programs and graphics tools are supplied.
Lecture notesIs provided (CHF 10.- per copy).
LiteratureList of literature is provided.
701-0106-AALMathematics V: Applied Deepening of Mathematics I - III
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-3 credits6RM. A. Sprenger
AbstractSelected mathematical topics are presented for later use in more specialised lectures. Part of the topics were already discussed in the lectures Mathematics I-III. Here, they should be shortly recapitulated and most importantly applied to practical problems. If necessary, new mathematical concepts and methods will be introduced in order to solve challenging and inspiring problems from practice.
ObjectiveThe aim of this lecture is to prepare the students for the more specialised lectures. They should become more familiar with the mathematical background, the mathematical concepts und most of all with their application and interpretation.
ContentPractical examples from the following areas will be discussed: ordinary differential equations; eigenvalue problems from linear algebra; systems of linear and nonlinear differential equations; partial differential equations (diffusion, transport, waves).
701-0071-AALMathematics III: Systems Analysis
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-4 credits9RN. Gruber
AbstractThe objective of the systems analysis course is to deepen and illustrate the mathematical concepts on the basis of a series of very concrete examples. Topics covered include: linear box models with one or several variables, non-linear box models with one or several variables, time-discrete models, and continuous models in time and space.
ObjectiveLearning and applying of concepts (models) and quantitative methods to address concrete problems of environmental relevance. Understanding and applying the systems-analytic approach, i.e., Recognizing the core of the problem - simplification - quantitative approach - prediction.
ContentLink
Lecture notesOverhead slides will be made available through Ilias.
LiteratureImboden, D.S. and S. Pfenninger (2013) Introduction to Systems Analysis: Mathematically Modeling Natural Systems. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.

Link
701-1901-AALSystems Analysis
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
E-4 credits9RN. Gruber
AbstractSystems analysis is about the application of mathematical concepts to solve real world problems in a quantitative manner. Areas covered include: Dynamic linear models with one and several variables, Non-linear models with one or several variables; discrete-time models; and continuous models in space and time.
ObjectiveThe goal of the course is to develop quantitative skills in order to understand and solve a range of typical environmental problems.
ContentThe subject of the exam is the content of my
undergraduate lecture series Systemanalyse I and II (see Link).
This course is closely aligned with the Imboden&Koch / Imboden&Pfenniger books, except that I essentially skip chapter 7.
Lecture notesNo script is available, but you can purchase the Imboden/Koch or Imboden/Pfenniger books (or download some of the chapters yourself) through the Springer Verlag:

English version:
Link

German version:
Link
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