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MN-GM-GEOPLATM

Specialisation Module: Planetary Atmospheres
Identification Number

MN-GM-GEOPLATM
Workload

180 h
Credit Points

6
Term

1st - 3rd Semester
Offered Every

on special announcement
Start

on special announcement
Duration

1 semester
1 Course types
a) Lecture
b) Exercise
Contact times
30 h
30 h
Private study
30 h
90 h
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.
The content of the course requires the undergraduate knowledge of mathematics, physics and space geophysics.
6 Type of Examination

At the beginning of the lecture-free period, there is a 120 to 180-minute written examination, the content of which is the material from the lecture and exercises. Successful completion of the exercises is required for admission to the examination; for this, the acquisition of 50% of the points to be achieved is sufficient. A repeat examination is offered before or at the beginning of the following semester.
The written examination grade is the module grade. In the case of two passed examinations (see § 20 paragraph 10 examination regulations), the better grade is the module grade.
7 Credits awarded

The module is passed, and the credit points will be awarded, if the written examination is passed.
8 Compatibility with other curricula

Suitable as an elective course for physics students.
9 Proportion of final grade

Weight of the module grade in the overall grade: 6/150 (4 %)
10 Module coordinator

Silvia Tellmann
11 Further information

Version: 2023-03-28