PHYSICS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN II

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ATM OCN 330 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: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the relevance radiation has for weather and climate and the basic properties of radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Describe reflection, refraction, and their relationship to optical phenomena. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Summarize radiative properties exhibited by natural and artificial surfaces on the planet and the use of satellite imagery to detect them. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain thermal emission, including blackbody radiation and emissivity. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe atmospheric emission and transmission, including extinction, scattering, and absorption in a plane-parallel atmospheric formulation. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Calculate radiative equilibrium and the balance at the Top of the Atmosphere (TOA). Audience: Undergraduate 7. Explain principles of absorption of atmospheric gases and particles. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Summarize main aspects of broadband fluxes and heating rates. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the relevance radiation has for weather and climate and the basic properties of radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Describe reflection, refraction, and their relationship to optical phenomena. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Summarize radiative properties exhibited by natural and artificial surfaces on the planet and the use of satellite imagery to detect them. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Explain thermal emission, including blackbody radiation and emissivity. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe atmospheric emission and transmission, including extinction, scattering, and absorption in a plane-parallel atmospheric formulation. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Calculate radiative equilibrium and the balance at the Top of the Atmosphere (TOA). Audience: Undergraduate 7. Explain principles of absorption of atmospheric gases and particles. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Summarize main aspects of broadband fluxes and heating rates. Audience: Undergraduate