Foundations of Physics for Environmental Sciences

The course aims to provide students with some physics concepts at a specialist level in two main field: the applications in the energy transition technologies and the understanding of the natural and anthropic mechanisms of climate change. The leitmotif of the course is the role of energy in the addressed processes. The first part of the course is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms that in the past caused changes in the global climate and those that can change it in the next future, making the student able to critically address the current debate on Global Warming. The second part ideals with the role of energy resources in the development of human societies.

PART ONE: energy and climate
Energy in physics, kinetics, potential, radiant, heat.
Terrestrial and extraterrestrial sources of energy. Renewable and fossil sources. Production, transport and conservation of energy. Radiative energy balance of the Earth. The greenhouse effect.
Water physic-chemical characteristics and its role in the biosphere as an energy vector.
The photosynthetic cycle and biomass production.
Climate evolution, astronomical natural causes (the Milankovic cycles), biological causes, anthropogenic causes.
Paleoclimate studies: methods of studying the climate in the past. Dating, hints of nuclear physics, C14 and other methods for the earth sciences. Climate models and climate changes on the Earth. Global Warming.
Climate change and conservation of the historical-cultural heritage. The microclimate, a condition for the conservation of materials and for human use.

PART TWO energy and human society
Optics applied to environmental sciences, electromagnetic radiation spectrum, optical band spectroscopies, Lambert-Beer law. Hints of lighting, classification and characteristics of sources and illuminants.
Notes on the laws of heat diffusion. Thermophysical properties of materials.
Energy saving (legislation, diagnostics, materials and structures). Thermography in building inspection.
An assessment of population development and its implications on settlements, buildings and resource consumption with particular focus on energy consumption.
Discussion of how energy systems contribute to the shaping of society and the conditions that resulted in the agricultural and industrial revolution.
The conditions for development, evolution and collapse of civilizations.