PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN I

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ( PHYSICS 202 , 208 , or 248 or concurrent enrollment in PHYSICS 202 , 208 , or 248 ) and MATH 234 or concurrent enrollment in MATH 234 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness + Lab Breadth - Physical Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. describe the vertical structure of the atmosphere and how atmospheric constituents are distributed from the surface to the ionosphere. Audience: Undergraduate 2. derive thermodynamic equations and apply them to study the thermal structure of basic atmospheric phenomena. Audience: Undergraduate 3. show how thermal energy and the first law of thermodynamics are applied to describe atmospheric thermal properties and structure. Audience: Undergraduate 4. describe how entropy and the second law of thermodynamics are applied to basic thermal problems. Audience: Undergraduate 5. describe the process of phase change in atmospheric phenomena. Audience: Undergraduate 6. analyze atmospheric soundings using a thermodynamic diagram. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. describe the vertical structure of the atmosphere and how atmospheric constituents are distributed from the surface to the ionosphere. Audience: Undergraduate 2. derive thermodynamic equations and apply them to study the thermal structure of basic atmospheric phenomena. Audience: Undergraduate 3. show how thermal energy and the first law of thermodynamics are applied to describe atmospheric thermal properties and structure. Audience: Undergraduate 4. describe how entropy and the second law of thermodynamics are applied to basic thermal problems. Audience: Undergraduate 5. describe the process of phase change in atmospheric phenomena. Audience: Undergraduate 6. analyze atmospheric soundings using a thermodynamic diagram. Audience: Undergraduate