Degree | Type | Year |
---|---|---|
2500097 Physics | OT | 4 |
You can view this information at the end of this document.
It is highly recommended to have been taken courses in basic physics and mathematics such as statistical physics, thermodynamics, radiation physics and integral/differential calculus.
It would help, though is not a must, some knowledge on fluid dynamics.
To provide those basic and necessary elements for a proper understanding of the basic processes that intervene, from the perspective of physics, in some of the main environmental problems. The subject essentially is a presentation of our current knowledge of geophysical fluids. Also some short presentations will be provided about other areas of physics relevant in environmental issues such as turbulence, energy efficiency, etc.
Finally, some more practical issues based on environmental radioactivity will be introduced, namely the basics on radioactive tracers as a means to evaluate environmental processes with examples from hydrology, atmospheric sciences and oceanography.
1 Atmosphere and hydrosphere
1.1 The climate system. Energy balance
1.2 The Greenhouse effect
1.3 The ozone layer
1.4 The atmosphere and ocean’s thermal structure. Atmosphere and ocean parameters. State equations. Adiabatic processes. Potential temperature. Stability.
2. Ocean and atmosphere dynamics
2.1 Basic equations
2.2 Rotation effects. Geostrophic flow
2.3 Circulation and vorticity
2.4 Ekman layer
3. Environmental radiaoactivity: isotopic tracers
3.1 Nuclear stability
3.2 Environmental origin of the stable and radioactive nuclides
3.3 How to use radioactive tracers in environmental processes
3.4 Some examples of radioactive tracers as used in environmental processes
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Exercises resolution sessions | 16 | 0.64 | |
Theoretical sessions | 33 | 1.32 | |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Student personal work | 93 | 3.72 |
Theoretical lectures to introduce some basic concepts.
Practical sessions to solve those exercises that have been previously handed to the student.
Students will give an oral exposition based on scientific publications.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
First partial examination | 30 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16 |
Oral expositions | 30 % | 0.5 | 0.02 | 6, 11, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21 |
Recovery examination | 70 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | |
Second partial examination | 40 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 18 |
A first partial exam covering the contents studied until then. It is mainlt theoretical: 30%
An oral presentation on a topic related to environmentañl physics: 30%
The second partial exam includes a multiple-choice test, which covers all the contents of the course, plus some practical exercises: 40%
In order to be able to participate in the recovery examination the student have to:
a) have done at least the two partial exams
b) have obtained a minimum of 3 out of 10 in the overall of the tests carried out
The final mark would be split into 70% by the recovery exam plus 30% by the oral presentation.
There will NOT be exam to improve the final qualification.
Those students who have not completed any of the partials nor the oral presentation will have a "Not evaluable" final grade.
Single evaluation
Students who have taken advantage of the single assessment modality must take a final test that will consist of a theory exam in which they must develop a topic and answer a series of short questions. Next, you will have to do a problem test where you will have to solve a series of exercises similar to those that have been worked on in the classroom. When you have finished, you will deliver the work chosen and done during the course. There will not be, however, oral presentation. These tests will be carried out on the same day, time and place as the tests of the second part of the continuous assessment modality. The student's grade will be the weighted average of the three previous activities, in which the theory exam will account for 30% of the grade, the problems exam for 40% and the work report presented for 30%. If the final mark does not reach 5, the student has another opportunity to pass the subject through the recovery exam that will be held on the date set by the coordination of the degree. In this test it will bepossible to recover 70% of the mark corresponding to theory and problems. The work reported part is not recoverable.
Elementary
B. Cushman-Roisin, Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Prentice Hall, 1994 **
S.Pond, G.L.Pickard, Introductory Dynamical Oceanography, Butterworth, 1997
J.M.Wallace i P.V. Hobbs, Atmospheric Science, Academic Press, New York, 1977 **
John Houghton, The Physics of Atmospheres, 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press, 2002
C.D. Ahrens, Meteorology today (7th ed.), Brooks/ColePacific Grove, 2003
Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, Principles of planetary climate, Cambridge UniverssityPress, 2010
IPCC, 2022
Advanced
S. P. Arya, Introduction to micrometeorology, Academic Press, 1988
S. P. Arya, Air pollution. Meteorology and dispersion, Oxford University Press, New York, 1999
E. Boeker, R. van Grondelle, Environmental Physics, Wiley, London 1999
E. Boeker, R. van Grondelle, Environmental Science, Wiley, Chichester 2001
G.S. Campbell, J. M. Norman, An introduction to Environmental Biophysics, Springer, 1998.
W. Cotton, R. A. Pielke, Human Impacts on Weather and Climate, Cambridge, 1995.
S. Eskinazi, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics of our Environment, Academic Press, 1975.
K. N. Liou, An introduction to atmospheric radiation, Academic Press, 2002 **
References marked with a double asterisk are the most relevant for the course.
No specific software will be used.
Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
---|---|---|---|---|
(PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
(TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |