Main contents

The goal of the school is to familiarize the participants entering the field of atmospheric sciences in the fundamentals that are crucial for practicing atmospheric chemistry research. It is a refresher of the basics of chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, photochemistry, and heterogeneous chemistry required to work in the areas of air quality and climate change. The applications of these fundamentals will be exemplified with current environmental issues. 

Even though the participants may not necessarily work specifically on these environmental issues, they will learn how these fundamentals are used in atmospheric chemistry research. 

I -  Atmospheric chemistry Fundamentals:

Introduction:

Why do we study atmospheric chemistry? Provide a glimpse at the policies behind the three key atmospheric chemistry issues of today. Appreciation of how the fundamentals of the atmospheric chemistry help us study and solve environmental problems.

Kinetics; Spectroscopy; Photochemistry; and Heterogeneous and multiphase Chemistry:

Basic knowledge and concepts for atmospheric sciences.

II - Instrumentation and Atmospheric Observation:

 Instrumentation dedicated to gas phase pollutants and particles

Observatories and stations to measure atmospheric gases and particles that affect air quality and climate

 III - Modelling:

 Understand the role of computer models in atmospheric chemistry (Climate and Air Quality models) and be able to describe the key processes that these models need to consider and how these change depending up on the application.

 IV - Environmental issues that will be discussed and used to exemplify the fundamentals:

 Air quality:

What are the issues regarding ozone and other criteria pollutants?  Specifics about PM.  Examples of air quality issues and calculations that emphasize the basics noted above.

 Climate Change:

What are the issues regarding climate change and atmospheric chemistry?  Specifics about greenhouse gases, their lifetime, and ability to calculate relative potency of greenhouse gases.  Role of aerosols in climate and how to understand their role.

 Ozone Layer Depletion:

What is ozone layer depletion? What is its history? What is the chemistry behind it? Descriptions of the use of above basics in dealing with the ozone layer depletion issue.

In addition to the lectures, there will be sessions devoted to hands-on experiences in solving problems. These sessions will be done in groups and there will be opportunities to compare approaches and discuss the results.