Atmos C203C

C203C/C165. Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation. (4) Lecture, three hours. Concurrently.

Fundamentals of radiation; Blackbody radiation, governing laws, and absorption line formation; Radiative transfer equation applied to the Earth's atmosphere; Radiation from the sun and sunspots; Earth's orbit about the sun, solar insolation, solar spectrum, and solar constant; Absorption of solar radiation by H₂O, O₃, CO₂, O₂, and other trace gases in the atmosphere and the formation of ozone layers; Molecular (Rayleigh) scattering; Radiative heating ; Introduction to the absorption of greenhouse gases in the thermal infrared; The role of radiation in climate and remote sensing.

Text book: An Introduction to Atmospheric Radiation, Academic Press, 2002, selected topics in Chapters 1-4; additional references will also be provided.

Letter grades: Homework exercises in Chapters 1-2 and selected exercises in Chapter 3; Mid-term and final exams.

Outline of the course

FUNDAMENTALS OF RADIATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC APPLICATIONS: concepts and definitions; blackbody radiation laws; electronic, vibrational, and rotational transitions for line formation; line broadening; breakdown of thermodynamic equilibrium; the equation of radiative transfer for atmospheric applications;

SOLAR RADIATION AT THE TOP OF THE ATMOSPHERE: the structure of the sun and sunspots; the Earth's orbit about the sun and solar insolation; solar spectrum and solar constant measurements

ABORPTION AND SCATTERING OF SOLAR RADIATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE: the structure and composition of the earth's atmosphere; absorption of solar radiation in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared; photochemistry and the formation of ozone; introduction to Rayleigh scattering and polarization; radiative heating consideration

INTRDUCTION OF THERMAL INFRARED EMISSION: thermal infrared spectrum and the greenhouse effect; the role of radiation in climate and remote sensing