CHE 463/563

Spring 2005

 

Instructor:                        Dr. Kevin Crist

Office                                Stocker 177

Email                                cristk@ohiou.edu

Phone:                              593-4751

                                                                       

 

 

Text:  Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry, by Daniel J. Jacob, Princeton University Press, 1999.

 

 

Course Outline

 

            Topic                                                  Chapters                                Lecture Hrs

 

Introduction and Overview of Course                                                                         1

 

Units of measurement  , basic transport           1,2,      4                                              3

 

Composition of troposphere, Modeling           3, 5                                                      3

 

Global Biochemical Cycles                             6                                                          3

 

Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect              7                                                          3

 

Exam # 1                                                                                                                   

 

Chemical Kinetics, Stratospheric Ozone         9,10                                                     3

 

Oxidation Chemistry in the troposphere          11                                                        3

 

Ozone Air Pollution                                        12                                                        3

 

Particulate Matter                                            8                                                          3                                                                                                         

Acid Rain                                                        13                                                        3

 

TBA                                                                                                                            2

 

           

 

 

 

Course Overview

 

              Environmental Engineers including Chemical Engineers  in the environmental arena  are involved in the detection, analysis and control of pollution problems.  This course is designed to give the student an overview of the basic principles used by these specialist when dealing with air pollution problems.  I anticipate through this class to give you an appreciation for the scope of the major environmental issues surrounding atmospheric chemistry and I hope to infect you with the enthusiasm I feel for the subject. 

 

            I have three major goals for this course: 1.) to help you attain a basic understanding of the many components and issues surrounding air pollution  2.) to give you a thorough understanding of quantifying contaminate concentrations and a basic understanding of atmospheric transport and  3.) to provide you with a glimpse of what a career in this field would be like.

 

            To meet these goals I have structured weekly homework assignments, and projects that will support the lecture material.  The lecture and reading assignments will prepare you for homework assignments, and exams.  How much you gain from this course will be determined by our joint efforts.  I would like you to be an active participant.  Ask questions! Make comments! Read ahead in the text.  

 

            I’ll do my best to foster a friendly non-intimidating classroom environment.  I’ll always try to sense where the class is at, bored or interested, comprehending or blown away.

 

Grading:         Exam 1                        25%

Final Exam                  25%

Project(s)                     25%

            Literature Review of the Global Warming Issues (Pro and Con)

Analysis of Air Quality data from Athens Surface Air Monitoring Station (which will included a site visit)

Problems                     25%

 

Homework Policy:   Homework problems will be reviewed in class.  Homework handed in late (1 day to 1 week) will have a 50% reduction in credit


 

Graduate Students (additional work):  Two literature Research Articles:

 

Each literature research will included a two to-three page memo reviewing an article related to air pollution or atmospheric chemistry research from a peer-reviewed journal.  The “Subject” of the memo should be the article reference, and should provide sufficient detail to allow anyone to look up the article.  Suggested journals are Journal of Geophysical Research - Atmospheres, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Atmospheric Environment, Environmental Science and Technology, Journal of Physical Chemistry, International Journal of Chemical Kinetics and Analytical Chemistry. Articles related to your research, if it is atmospheric-related, are encouraged.  In your first paragraph, state the key findings presented in the article.  In subsequent paragraphs, summarize the supporting evidence for these findings.  Then critically review the work.  Is the supporting evidence convincing?  Is it primarily qualitative or quantitative?  Are detection limits and uncertainties stated, and are they sufficient to justify the authors’ conclusions?  Have alternative explanations or possibilities been explicitly addressed?  Turn in a photocopy of the article with your memo for grading, and be prepared to discuss the article in class.