Syllabus

AOSC 634 Air Sampling and Analysis

AOSC 458R Advanced Topics in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science:
Observations in Atmospheric Science
https://www.atmos.umd.edu/~russ/syllabus634.html

Spring 2020

Summary: Theory and practice of measurements of atmospheric properties, gases, and particles including priority pollutants and greenhouse gases. Hands on experience with traditional and state-of-the-art instruments will be provided. Discussion of the combined chemical and meteorological considerations in designing field experiments. For 458R one fewer lab report is due, and exams will be modified. Prerequisites: AOSC 400 or 431 for AOSC 458R; AOSC434 or AOSC 620 for AOSC 634.

Lectures, MF 1:00pm in ATL 2330, can be arranged to accommodate student schedules.
Laboratory, W 1:00 to 4:00pm (or by arrangement) ATL 4332
Mondays will be guidance on methods and applications
Fridays will be Lecture on the theory of observations. 


		Lecture Schedule	

		Topic					Week

 	  I.	PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF SENSORS
 		A. Introduction 	     		 1
 		B. Objectives   	     		 1
 		C. Precision, Accuracy, Uncertainty 	 1
 		D. Static Response 	     		 1
 		E. Dynamic Response	     		 2
 		F. First & Second Order Systems	     	 2
 		G. Sinusoidal vs. step input		 3

 	  II.	NOISE AND ITS REDUCTION
 		A. Johnson and shot noise 	     	 3
 		B. Optical Absorption Systems 	     	 4
 		C. Chemiluminescent Systems 	     	 5

 	  III.	SAMPLING STRATEGY
 		A. Exposure and Site Effects 	     	 6
 		B. Geographic Variability 	     	 7

 	  IV.	INSTRUMENTATION
 		A. Ozone by UV Absorption 	     	 8
 		B. CO2 CH4 & CO by Cavity Ringdown 	 9
 		C. NOx Detection 	 	     	10
 		D. Chemical Flux Measurement 	     	11
 		E. Aerosol Physics 	     		12
 		F. Aerosol Chemistry     		13
Lecture Presentation Files
Welcome
Document Noise and its reduction
Lesson 1. Introduction and Temperature
Lecture 1. Measurement Theory
Lesson 2. Pressure
Lesson 3. Humidity
Lecture 2. Dynamic Response First Order Systems
Lecture 3. Dynamic Response Second Order Systems
Lecture 4. Dynamic Response to Sinusoidal Input
Lecture 5. Vertical Flux Measurement
Lecture 6. Flow through a cylinder
Lecture 7 Exposure and Siting
Lecture 8 CO Detection
Lecture 9 Cavity Ringdown for GHGs
Lecture 10 NOx Chemiluminescence
Lecture 11 Aerosol Generation and Measurements
Lecture 12 Sulfur Cycle and Measurements


		Experiment Schedule
	
		Topic					Week

 	  I.	Fundamental Atmospheric Properties
 		
 		A. Precipitation	     		1-6
 			Precipitation lab guide 
 		B. Temperature  	     		 1
			Temperature lab guide
		C. Pressure 	     			 2
			Pressure lab guide
 		D. Flow Meters	     			 3
			Flow Control lab guide
 		E. Humidity				 4		
			Humidity lab guide
 		F. Surface-based remote sensing  	 5

 	 II.	Trace Gases
 		A. Ozone	     			 8
			O3 lab guide
 		B. Sulfur Dioxide	     		 9
			SO2 lab guide
 		C. Oxides of Nitrogen	    		10
			NOX lab guide
		D. Greenhouse gases CO2, CH4, CO, H2O	11
			GHG lab guide
			Picarro manual

 	 III. 	Aerosol Optical Properties
 		A. Scattering 	 	   		12
 		B. Absorption	 	    		13

 	  IV.  	Special Topics

	Final Exam in finals week.

Text:  Specially prepared laboratory guides, instrument
manuals, and current scientific literature.  Extensive use will be
made of Instructor's Handbook on Meteorological
Instrumentation, F. Brock, Ed.,(NCAR Tech. Note NCAR/TN-327+1A) 1984.
Handbook of Meteorology

Finlayson-Pitts and Pitts, Atmospheric Chemistry, 2002.

Excellent WMO site  http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/IMOP/CIMO-Guide.html

Grading: Best seven (for undergraduates best six) of nine laboratory reports (70%) lab
notebook (10%) and a final exam (20%).  The AOSC634 final will include additional, more challenging
questions.  Lab reports will be graded on a 10-point basis (>9 = A; >8 = B; >7 = C) the average
of your best reports will be counted.