CHEM 302

ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

 Course Handouts - 2017

1. Introduction to Environmental Chemistry            Readings: Chapter 1

Course introductory comments

Review of Important Chemical Principles and Units of Measure (handout)

Introductory Lecture

    Definitions

    Box Models

    Atmospheric Residence Times

    Summary of Atmospheric Gases

    Oxidation States

             Review: Gas Phase Concentrations Practice Questions (and Answers)        Worked Solutions

     Useful Equations and Review Week One

2. The Earth’s Atmosphere                                       Readings: Chapter 2

Composition and Structure Lecture

Thermal structure and composition of the atmosphere

Residence time of atmospheric gases and regional variability

Blackbody radiation and atmospheric windows

Solar and terrestrial light penetration

Biogeochemical cycling (handout)

More on Residence Times and Half-lifes

Reactions and calculations in atmospheric chemistry

Everything you ever needed to know about Chemical Kinetics, but were afraid to ask (handout)

Review: Gas Phase Kinetics Practice Questions (and Answers)      Worked Solutions

            Cool Stuff: KCVS Structure of the Atmosphere Applet

3. Stratospheric Chemistry: Ozone                           Readings: Chapter 3

Lecture Material

            The ozone layer and Chapman reactions;     Modeling Ozone Layer

            Introduction to Photochemistry           

            Catalytic decomposition of ozone

            Chlorofluorocarbon chemistry

            Polar hole formation

            Review: Photochemistry Practice Questions (and Answers)     Worked Solutions

4. Tropospheric Chemistry: Smog                            Readings: Chapter 4

            Photochemical smog formation

            Hydroxyl radical chemistry        

Internal combustion engine exhaust

Review: Tropospheric Chemistry Practice Questions (and Answers)    worked solutions

5. Tropospheric Chemistry: Precipitation                 Readings: Chapter 5

            Lecture notes (powerpoint)

Atmospheric production of nitric and sulfuric acids

            Rain, snow and fog chemistries

            Short and long range acid transport

            Control technologies for sulfur and nitrogen emissions

            Review: Aqueous Gases/Acid Rain Practice Questions (and Answers)  Worked Solutions

6. Atmospheric Aerosols                                           Readings: Chapter 6

            Lecture notes (powerpoint)

Introduction to Aerosols

Sources, concentrations and atmospheric lifetimes   

            Abatement strategies for particulate emissions

             Review: Aerosol Residence Times Practice Questions (and Answers) 

7. Chemistry of Urban and Indoor Atmospheres     Readings: Chapter 7

            Lecture notes (powerpoint)

Pollutants in urban atmospheres

            Indoor air quality, airborne contaminants and exposure thresholds

             Review: Air Exchange Rates Practice Questions (and Answers) Worked Solutions

8. The Chemistry of Global Climate             Readings: Chapter 8

Lectures - Chemistry of Global Climate           

Lecture - Causes and Implications of Climate Change

Thermal structures revisited and the solar energy balance

        IR absorption spectra, greenhouse gases and aerosols

        Relative importance of greenhouse gases

        Carbon based fuels and alternative energy supplies

        Review: Global Warming Practice Questions (and Answers)   Worked Solutions