ERB311 Dynamic Atmosphere

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Building on the foundation of atmospheric science laid in PQB360, this unit will provide enhanced understanding of chemical and physical processes that are responsible for structure, composition and properties of the atmosphere. Students will gain deeper  understanding of aerosol and cloud formation, their interaction with solar radiation and role in global climate, as well as chemical transformations that govern abundance of important atmospheric trace species in both gas and aerosol phase. This knowledge will provide students with the background to understand current issues, such as stratospheric ozone depletion, impact of volcanoes on climate, air pollution and photochemical smog, acid rain and climate change.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Explain aerosols and cloud formation and their impact on Earth’s radiative forcing through interaction with solar and terrestrial radiation
2. Discuss chemical composition and transformations in the urban, remote and stratospheric environments
3. Solve simple problems and derivations related to physical and chemical processes
4. Present results of observational atmospheric composition as a written technic (scientific) report

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit combines blended online and conventional lectures, practicals and collaborative tutorials to provide both theoretical and important practical experience.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback will be provided through the following mechanisms: Written and/or oral feedback will be provided for all assessment items according to each assessment criteria. 

Assessment

Overview

You will be expected to undertake a number of assessments related to the learning outcomes of this unit (see below).

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Problem solving task

This assessment item will consist of set of questions focused on analysis and interpretation of data collected during second practical

Assessment: Written scientific report

Analyse, interpret and present atmospheric air quality data from one of Brisbane's air quality stations in a form of scientific report.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Theory Exam

Theory based examination to assess cumulative knowledge gained throughout the semester.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no extraordinary risks associated with the unit.