110 Eller O&M Building

Instructor: Dr. Gunnar Schade

Office: 1104 Eller O&M Building

E-mail: gws@geos.tamu.edu

Phone: (979) 845-0633

Office hours: Mon., Wed. 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. or by appointment

Short Class Description:
This course covers the basics as well as selected advanced topics of chemical reactions and transformations in our atmosphere. Chemical and physico-chemical principles relevant to the chemistry in the atmosphere, including spectroscopy, kinetics, and organic chemistry, will be reviewed. Next, atmospheric constituents relevant for its chemistry will be discussed to different detail, including their reactive transformations in the troposphere and stratosphere. Relevant analytical measurement techniques will be presented alongside the constituents discussed, with a focus on gas phase chemistry.

Prerequisites: Graduate student enrollment

Course Outline (we will try to stick to this as much as possible):

Week Topic

1 Definitions; Review of periodic table and electron configurations

2 Radiation and spectroscopy review; O₂ and O₃ photolysis

3 Kinetics; Basic atmo-chemistry reactions: CO, CH₄, O₃, NO_y, HO_x, lifetimes

4 Atmospheric CO, CH₄, and NO_x budgets

5 NO_x and HO_x cycling in the troposphere

6 Analytical instrumentation for basic air quality measurements; mid term exam

7 Review of Organic Chemistry

8 Tropospheric hydrocarbon chemistry

9 Photochemical ozone pollution; NO_y-chemistry

10 Tropospheric sulfur chemistry, atmospheric sulfur cycle

11 Atmospheric aerosols I

12 Atmospheric Aerosols II; Stratospheric Chemistry I

13 Stratospheric Chemistry II

14 Special Topic and Review

15 Review and final exam

Learning outcomes:

At the end of this course you should be able name the major atmospheric constituents and how they affect atmospheric chemistry. You shall be able to explain why and how the major constituents are degraded in the atmosphere and why this chemistry is relevant in the different layers of the atmosphere, including the ability to illustrate the mechanisms and pathways of the chemical processes occurring. My objective is that you shall further be able to describe the kinetics of this chemistry in the form of lifetimes, and diurnal and seasonal cycles, including known interactions between physics and chemistry of the atmosphere.

Suggested textbooks:

Chemistry of the Natural Atmosphere by Peter Warneck, Academic Press, 2^nd Ed., 1999

Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry by Peter Hobbs†, Cambridge University Press, 2000

Atmospheric Change, An Earth System Perspective, T.E. Graedel and P.J. Crutzen, W.H. Freeman and Co., NY, 1993

I will not be using a specific textbook to follow. Most introductory atmospheric chemistry textbooks on the market will be useful. For those of you with weak chemistry backgrounds, I suggest buying “Organic Chemistry for Dummies”, which has many relevant and easy to understand chapters for this class. You may also want to buy or borrow a molecular model set (approx. $30-$60).

Besides a textbook, I will provide hand-outs on many topics, including overview/review articles on atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric aerosols, and analytical methods. This material will include both mandatory and free readings.

Grading:

Homework: 40% - 8 writing/calculation assignments, 2 unannounced quizzes (15 min max.)

Exams: 60% - one mid-term, one final exam, each counting 30% of the grade

Typical Grading Scale: 100-90: A; 89-75: B; 74-60: C; 60-50: D; less than 50: F

This grading scale may be adjusted slightly (“curving”) based on relative student performance and ‘soft’ criteria, such as attendance and classroom interaction

Aggie Code of Honor:

The Aggie Code of Honor states that lying, cheating, or stealing is not tolerated (http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor). Anyone who violates the rules of academic honesty will receive an "F" for the course and additional sanctions as described in the University Regulations. Plagiarism, usually defined as passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, writings, etc. that belong to another, is a common form of Aggie Honor Code violation. In accordance with its definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules under the section “Scholastic Dishonesty”.

ADA Statement:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Disability Services, in Cain Hall, Room B118, or call 845-1637. For additional information visit http://disability.tamu.edu.

University Rules Regarding Attendance

Go to http://student‐rules.tamu.edu/rule07 for policies and a link to absence forms.