MN-GM-METRAD

Specialisation Module: Atmospheric Radiation
Identification number MN-GM- METRAD		Workload 180 h	Credit Points 6	Term 1st - 3rd Semester	Offered Every year	Start WiSe	Duration 1 semester
1	Course types a) Lecture b) Exercise			Contact time 45 h 30 h		Private study 45 h 60 h
2	Module objectives and skills to be acquired Understanding the relevance of atmospheric radiation for weather and climate Understanding the interaction of atmospheric radiation with atmospheric gases, aerosols, clouds and precipitation Basic knowledge of modern remote sensing methods Solving problems in atmospheric radiation and cloud physics Computational techniques to address radiative transfer Programming experience and presentation skills Evaluation and interpretation of radiation sensor measurements Critical assessment and discussion of scientific work, presentation techniques, faculity of abstraction, conceptional, analytic and logical way of thinking
3	Module content Basic concepts and definitions, EM waves, electromagnetic spectrum Reflection and refraction Optical phenomena (rainbow, halos, etc.) Thermal emission, Planck's function, radiation laws, brightness temperature Absorption and scattering by atmospheric gases and particles Radiative transfer in different spectral regions Broadband fluxes and heating rates, atmospheric radiation budget Climate sensitivity Measurements of atmospheric radiation, ground-based & satellite Remote sensing of atmospheric water vapor, clouds and precipitation
4	Teaching methods Lecture, exercises The exercises comprise: Task sheets for strengthening the understanding of atmospheric radiation concepts, PC-exercises on radiative transfer & heating rates, evaluation, interpretation and presentation of broadband short- and long-wave measurements of atmospheric radiation (surface and satellite-based), Remote sensing applications
5	Prerequisites (for the module) Formal: None. The content of the course requires the undergraduate knowledge of mathematics, physics, and meteorology.
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 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 Ulrich Löhnert
11	Further information Version: 2023-03-28