GEF2200 – Atmospheric physics
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course gives an introduction to atmospheric physics, radiation and simple principles for remote sensing, elementary aerosol and cloud physics, and turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer. The course explains key processes in the atmosphere based on basic physical principles.
Learning outcome
After completing the course the candidate should have the following competence:
- Know the basic thermodynamic concepts for the atmosphere and be able to apply thermodynamic diagrams to assess stability and cloud conditions and explain weather phenomena as fohn wind and convective showers.
- Understand how aerosols and clouds affect solar radiation in the atmosphere and cause halos and rainbows.
- Be able to quantify how absorption and emission of short and long wave radiation cause heating or cooling I different vertical layers
- Have a general understanding of how aerosols are crucial for the formation of cloud droplets and ice particles. Based on thermodynamics understand how different processes can lead to precipitation.
- Understand how turbulent mixing in the atmospheric boundary layer is formed and how this turbulence affects exchange of energy, humidity and momentum between the ground ant the atmosphere.
- Be able to set up and make simple numerical simulations to illustrate cloud droplet formation and energy transport by radiation.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
-
Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2
And in addition one of these:
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
The following course must be taken before the field trip/excursion in GEF2200:
For students taking GEF2200 spring 2016 or later; to have GEF2200 included in your degree you must first pass the following HSE course:
For further information se website for transitional arrangements between old and new HSE courses.
Recommended previous knowledge
MAT1100 – Calculus, MAT-INF1100 – Modelling and Computations, GEF1000 – The Climate System (discontinued)
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with GEO2310 – Meteorology
9 ECTS credits overlap with the previous GF 121.
Teaching
Lectures and colloquia/group work, 4 hours per week. Several mandatory problems must be completed during the course.
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet, are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Studies administration, email address: studieinfo@geo.uio.no
To attend the field trip/excursion it is required that the following course is passed:
You will need to provide documentation that you have passed HMS0504 when you attend the field trip/excursion.
General information about excursions at the Department of Geosciences.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
Written mid-term exam (counts ca 25%). Final written examination (counts ca 75%). Letter grades (A-F).
The mandatory assignments must be approved prior the exam.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Exam attempts for this course are counted together with exam attempts in GEO2310 – Meteorology. The combined upper limit is three attempts.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.