Atmospheric Physics
Each module has to be completed with 8 credit points.
2nd (summer) semester module
Module 1. Atmospheric Physics 1
ID: AtmP1
Compulsoriness: Compulsory
ECTS credits: 8
Workload: 240 hours
Duration of Module: 1 semester
Semester: Summer (2nd)
Qualification goals:
Acquisition of expertise and skills on specific topics of atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, measurement techniques as well as numerical modelling.
The Summer School on Chemistry and Dynamics of the Atmosphere is a one week course held at the Research Centre Jülich. Students shall be enabled to get to know the relation of atmospheric research to adjacent disciplines to get a broader insight in interdisciplinary scientific questions. They will become acquainted with state-of-the-art measurement techniques and their applications. Furthermore, this course offers the opportunity to intensively discuss with the leading scientists in the field, who are available throughout the course. After the course the students are able to summarize the basic concepts of atmospheric chemistry and physics and thorougly report their experience.
General Note: The module final examination is taken in connection with the module components a + b or a + c.
Assessment Measures: unrestrictedly repeatable assessment of folder. Contents, time and form of each single achievement will be announced at the beginning of the semester through notice
from the examination board.
Components of the Module
AtmP1-a. "Summer School on Chemistry and Dynamics of the Atmosphere in Jülich"
Compulsoriness: Compulsory
Form of Study: Lectures, summer school
Weekly Hours: 3
Overall Workload: 150 hours
Description: One week course of the Universities Cologne and Wuppertal together with the institutes ICG –I and ICG-II of the Research Centre Jülich
Contents:
• Structure and Composition of the Atmosphere
• Gas Phase Chemistry of the Troposphere
• Physics and Chemistry of Aerosols
• Isotope Ratios in Trace Gases
• Stratospheric Chemistry
• Remote Sensing Techniques
• Interaction of Chemistry and Transport
• Global Change
• Numerical Modelling
AtmP1-b. "Selected Topics in Atmospheric Physics"
Compulsoriness: Elective, with an alternative of AtmP1-c
Form of Study: Lectures
Weekly Hours: 2
Overall Workload: 90 hours
Contents: Depending on up-to-date topics: Dynamics of the atmosphere, Atmospheric chemistry, Solar physics and the magnetosphere, Molecular spectroscopy, Numerical modelling, Planetary atmospheres.
AtmP1-c. "Atmospheric Modelling"
Compulsoriness: Elective, with an alternative of AtmP1-b
Form of Study: Lectures and exercises
Weekly Hours: 4
Overall Workload: 90 hours
Contents:
• Introduction: Types of Models
• Atmospheric Structure and Model Equations for Transport and Dynamics
• Conceptual Lower-Dimensional Mathematical Models (e.g. Stratospheric Brewer-Dobson Circulation)
• Numerical Models
• Numerical Approaches for Atmospheric Models
• Numerical Methods for Advection
3rd (winter) semester modules
Module 2. Introduction to the Atmospheric Physics
ID: EAP
Compulsoriness: Elective, with an alternative of AtmP2b
ECTS credits: 8
Workload: 240 hours
Duration of Module: 1 semester
Semester: Winter (3rd)
Qualification goals: The lecture Introduction to Atmospheric Physics leads to an understanding of the fundamental concepts of atmospheric physics. Students shall be enabled to apply the basic equations including the interaction of physical and chemical processes. With this knowledge they are able to understand basic phenomena of weather and climate.
General Note: Particularly suited for students with Bachelor of Physics or Applied Science.
Assessment Measures: unrestrictedly repeatable assessment of folder. The folder consists of written or digital exercises as well as a technical discussion or a written paper.
Components of the Module
EAP-a. "Introduction to Atmospheric Physics"
Compulsoriness: Compulsory
Form of Study: Lectures
Weekly Hours: 4
Overall Workload: 180 hours
Contents:
• Basic Equations and Definitions
• Atmospheric Thermodynamics
• Radiation in the Atmosphere
• Global Energy Budget and Greenhouse Effect
• Trace Gases and Photochemistry
• Dynamic of the Atmosphere
• Atmospheric Circulation
• Interaction of Chemistry and Transport
• External Influences on the Atmosphere
• Ionosphere and Magnetosphere
EAP-b. "Exercises Introduction to Atmospheric Physics"
Compulsoriness: Compulsory
Form of Study: Exercises
Weekly Hours: 2
Overall Workload: 60 hours
Description: Self-dependent solution of exercises on specific topics based on the lecture "Introduction to atmospheric physics”
Module 3. Atmospheric Physics 2b
ID: AtmP2b
Compulsoriness: Elective, with an alternative of EAP
ECTS credits: 8
Workload: 240 hours
Duration of Module: 1 semester
Semester: Winter (3rd)
Qualification goals: Acquisition of expertise and skills on specific topics of atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, measurement techniques as well as numerical modelling. Ability to present in oral and scientific form.
General Note: Particularly suited for students with Bachelor of Physics or Applied Science.
Assessment Measures: Oral module examination for Selected Topics in Atmospheric Physics (30 minutes), in combination with Seminar on Atmospheric Physics. The registration to the final module exam is possible only when ungraded presentation 47025 and ungraded presentation 46914 are successfully completed.
Components of the Module
AtmP2b-a. "Selected Topics in Atmospheric Physics"
Compulsoriness: Compulsory
Form of Study: Lectures and exercises
Weekly Hours: 2
Overall Workload: 150 hours
Description: An ungraded presentation (47025), documented by a script/set of slides (2 ECTS)
Contents: Depending on up-to-date topics: Dynamics of the atmosphere, Atmospheric chemistry, Solar physics and the magnetosphere, Molecular spectroscopy, Numerical modelling, Planetary atmospheres
AtmP2b-b. "Seminar on Atmospheric Physics"
Compulsoriness: Compulsory
Form of Study: Seminar
Weekly Hours: 2
Overall Workload: 90 hours
Description: An ungraded presentation (46914), documented by a script/set of slides (3 ECTS)
Contents: Students shall independently deal with selected topics of atmospheric physics and chemistry and related fields and present the result in a seminar talk. With this seminar various soft skills will be trained: Search and assessment of recent literature, suitable preparation of information for a presentation, structure of a scientific presentation, presentation of the relevant information in a well-adjusted form to various target groups.
Last modified: 22.07.2026
