
Purpose
and Content Atmospheric
Chemistry is a building block of earth and atmospheric science today.
Chemical interactions with dynamics affect pollution on a global
scale and lead to regional “acid rain,”air, and in some
cases, water quality. Stratospheric ozone depletion is a now classic
case of atmospheric chemistry at work on a large scale. Biogeochemical
cycling of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur compounds is an integral
part of ecosystems and global climate. Interactions of trace gases
and aerosols with infrared radiation determines climate forcings.
The chemical composition of snow-pack and ice cores is a record
of the atmosphere in history. The basics of atmospheric chemistry
(reactions, “families” of compounds, aerosol processes)
will be covered in this course and students will be introduced to
a spectrum of these issues. |
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