Syllabus – Spring 2012
CHEM/ATOC 5151 – Atmospheric Chemistry
University
of Colorado at Boulder – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry &
Dept of Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences
Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30-10:45 am
Ekeley M203
|
Taught by: Prof. Margaret Tolbert CIRES 166 303-492-3179 Office Hours: Tu/Th 11 am-noon |
Course Objective
After taking this course you should have a working knowledge of the principles of atmospheric chemistry and some in-depth knowledge on some areas of current interest. A good gauge of this accomplishment is for you to be able to understand the current research literature, or atmospheric chemistry seminars in Boulder (CU, NOAA, and NCAR).
Boulder is one (perhaps ÒtheÓ) of the worldÕs capitals for atmospheric chemistry. If you are doing research in this area, make an extra effort to take advantage of the fact that you are here to attend seminars and get to know local and out-of-town atmospheric scientists.
Course prerequisites
The course prerequisites are
undergraduate chemistry, physics and calculus. You are responsible for supplemental work that you may need
to catch up in any of the prerequisite areas.
Textbooks
|
Author |
Publisher |
Title |
|
Finlayson-Pitts |
Academic Press |
Chemistry of the Upper and Lower
Atmosphere (QC879.6 .F57 2000) |
|
Daniel Jacob |
free online textbook |
Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry http://acmg.seas.harvard.edu/education/index.html |
This class will NOT follow an exact textbook. We will use textbooks to get background information and addition details for each section. Much of the material can be found in either Finlayson-Pitts or Jacob. However, the photochemistry portion of the class is only covered in the Finlayson-Pitts textbook. You have the option to use both texts, or just choose one. If you do not buy Finlayson-Pitts, you may need to borrow a copy to get additional information on photochemistry. The Jacob textbook is available online in pdf format for free. Note that the Finlayson-Pitts book, though expensive, is an excellent reference book to own if you are continuing in atmospheric chemistry.
Web page for the course
http://www.colorado.edu/chemistry/chem5151/
Course Grading Policy
The grade will be determined as
the weighed average of:
Every lecture will have a reading assignment, as indicated in the course schedule below. Since we will be following the texts only in a general sense, reading the whole assignment before the lecture would be overkill. However you should look the material briefly before class, and if you are not having difficulty, you should read the material in more detail after class.
Students will be required to present one journal paper on an atmospheric chemistry topic to the class. The purpose is to gain familiarity with current topics in the field as well as to understand and practice scientific presentation skills. Students should begin considering articles for presentation as soon as possible, preferably selecting one related to proposed research, and check with the instructor for their suitability no later than 2 weeks prior to presentation. Questions from the presentations will be included on the Final Exam. Presentations will be AGU style, 12 minutes long, with 3 minutes for discussion. Presentations will be made throughout the semester.
Class Participation
Students are required to attend
class and participate in class discussions. We will be using ÒclickersÓ to aid in class
participation. Clickers can be
purchased from the CU bookstore and are required for this class. You will be asked questions daily in
class and will click in your response.
You will not be penalized for incorrect answers. You will, however, be awarded
ÒparticipationÓ points simply by clicking in your response. This will account for 15% of your class
grade. These are the same clickers
as used last year so you may borrow a clicker from a previous student. However, you may not share a clicker
with another student in the same class.
As with life, this syllabus is subject to change. I may make some changes to the course during the semester as appropriate, including to lectures, assignments, presentations, and exams.
CHEM-5151 Atm. Chem.
Tentative Schedule for Spring 2012
Fundamentals
1. Introduction
Introduction to the Atmosphere (T, P structure of atmosphere, Units, composition of atm, scale heights, lapse rates) Reading: Finlayson-Pitts, Chapters 1 and 2 or Jacob Chapters 1 and 2
2. Radiation and Photochemistry
Solar Radiation, Absorption Spectra, Light Scattering, Photochemistry, Photolysis rates
Reading: Finlayson-Pitts, Chapters 3 and 4
3. Transport
Box models, Transport Timescales, General Circulation
Continuity
Equation, Potential Temperature Reading: class notes, Jacob Chapters 3-5.
4. Kinetics
Gas Kinetics, Rate Laws, Termolecular Reactions, Temperature Dependence, Lifetimes
Applications to simple ozone
chemistry, Reading: Finlayson Pitts, Chapter 5, Jacob
Chapter 9.
Topics in Atmospheric Chemistry
5. Stratospheric Chemistry: Focus on Ozone
HOx cycle, sources and sinks, partitioning, reservoirs, lifetimes, reactions
NOx cycle, sources and sinks, partitioning, reactions, supersonic and subsonic aircraft
ClOx cycle, CFCs, polar stratospheric clouds, heterogeneous reactions, polar ozone
sulfate aerosols, volcanic effects, global ozone
Montreal protocol and amendments, CFC substitutes
Reading
Finlayson-Pitts, Chapters 12 and 13; Jacob Chapter 10
6. Urban Pollution
Photochemical smog, Text, Chapter 6, pages 179-191 plus Chapter 7
PAN, Finlayson-Pitts, Chapter 6,
pages 217-220; Jacob Chapters 11 and 12
Denver air pollution, class notes
7. Pollution in Remote regions, Finlayson Pitts, Chapter 6, pages 225 - end of chapter
8. Acid Rain Finlayson-Pitts, Chapter 8; Jacob Chapter 13
9. Tropospheric Particles, Finlayson-Pitts, Chapter 9; Jacob Chapter 8
10. Chemistry
and Climate, Finlayson-Pitts, Chapter 14;
Jacob Chapter 7
Disabilities
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability,
please submit to me
a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs can be
addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented
disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671,
Center for Community N200, and
http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.
If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see guidelines at
http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices/go.cgi?select=temporary.html
Disability Services' letters for students with disabilities indicate legally
mandated reasonable accommodations. The syllabus
statements and answers to
Frequently Asked Questions can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices
Religious observances
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that
faculty make every
effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of
religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or
required attendance. In this class, please let me know if you have any
conflicts and we will make arrangements.
See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Classroom behavior
policy
Students and faculty each have responsibility for
maintaining an appropriate
learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may
be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially
important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of
race, color, culture, religion, creed, politics, veteran's status, sexual
orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, disability,
and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the
student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an
alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in
the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See
policies at
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html
and at
http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Discrimination and
Harassment Policy
The University of Colorado at Boulder Discrimination and
Harassment Policy and
Procedures, the University of Colorado Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures,
and the University of Colorado Conflict of Interest in Cases of Amorous
Relationships policy apply to all students, staff, and faculty. Any
student,
staff, or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of sexual
harassment or discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national
origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran
status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at
303-492-2127 or the Office
of Student Conduct (OSC) at 303-492-5550.
Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies, and the campus
resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or
harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh
Honor Code
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are
responsible for
knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution.
Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic
dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All
incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council
(honor@colorado.edu; 303-735-2273). Students who are
found to be in violation
of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions
from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited
to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the
Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html
and at
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/