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Faculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesInstitute of Geophysics and Meteorology

MN-GM-GEOPLATM

Module Name: Planetary Atmospheres

Type of Module

  • Advanced Module

Module Code

GEOPLATM

Identification Number

MN-GM-GEOPLATM

Workload

180 h

Credit Points

6

Term of studying

1st - 3rd Semester

Frequency of
occurrence
Summer term

Duration

1 semester

1

Course Types

a) Lecture

b) Exercises

Contact times

30 h

30 h

Self-study times

30 h

90 h

Intended group size

15

2

Module Objectives and Skills to be Acquired

  • Introduction to planetary atmospheres, their evolution, their structure and the different underlying atmospheric processes.

  • Fundamentals of different atmospheric experimental measurement techniques, their possibilities, and limitations.

  • Basics of atmospheric modeling, model assumptions, and simplifications for different planetary environments and on different spatial and temporal scales.

 

Acquired skills:

  • Ability to understand the basics of different atmospheric processes and their influence on the evolution of different planetary atmospheres.

  • Fundamental understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of different planetary atmospheric measurement techniques (remote sensing and in situ) and the assumptions and simplifications used for atmospheric modeling.

  • Critical assessment, and discussion of scientific work.

3

Module Content

1. Introduction

  • Definition of planetary atmospheres

2. Origin and Evolution of Planetary Atmospheres

  • Origin of Planetary Atmospheres

  • Atmospheric Evolution Processes

  • Development of different planetary environments over time & climate changes

3. Experimental Techniques for the Study of Planetary Atmospheres

  • Remote sensing techniques from Earth and from Space

  • In situ measurement technqiues

4. Structure & Composition of Planetary Atmospheres

  • Vertical temperature structure

  • Ionospheres

  • Composition

  • Radiative Transfer, radiative equilibrium, momentum equations

5. Global Atmospheric Motion & Atmospheric Dynamics

  • Energy transfer

  • Atmospheric waves

  • Winds

  • Instabilities

6. Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modeling

  • Basics of atmospheric modeling

  • Simplifications and assumptions used for different model purposes on different spatial and temporal scales.

4

Teaching Methods

Lectures and exercises. The exercises will pick up themes from the lectures and give the students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the lecture content.

5

Prerequisites (for the Module)

  • Formal: None.

  • Knowledge of basics of mathematics, physics and space geophysics is strongly advised.

6

Type of Examination

Written Examination (graded).

7

Credits Awarded

Successful participation in the lectures is prerequisite for admission to the written exam.

At the end of the semester or to the beginning of the following semester a possibility to repeat the examination is offered. A failed examination may be repeated twice. Additional possibilities to repeat an examination exist according to the examination regulations (§ 20 section 1).

Assessments which have been passed are not allowed to be taken again. There is an exception: If at the end of a module which consists of a lecture and tutorial classes, the student takes the assessment at the first available date after having received admission to the module exam, he/she is then allowed to take the assessment again at the next available date for the purpose of improving the grade, even if he/she passed the assessment the first time – in this case, the better of the two grades will count towards the final degree grade (§ 20 section 9).

The module mark is the grade obtained in the assessment. In the case of two passed assessments the module mark is the better grade.

8

Compatibility with other Curricula

  • Other modules of equal value can be admitted and announced by the examination board after agreement.

  • Suitable as an elective course for mathematics, physics and geoscience students

9

Proportion of Final Grade
6/120

10

Module coordinator
Silvia Tellmann

11

Further information

Teaching language: Englisch

Additional literature: A. Sánchez-Lavega : An Introduction to Planetary Atmospheres, CRC Press, Paylor & Francis Inc, ISBN: 1420067354, 9781420067354, 2011.