Foundations of Physics for Environmental Sciences

The course aims to provide students with notions of physics at a specialist level on the technologies of the energy transition and their relationship with the natural and anthropogenic mechanisms of climate change. This will performed by explaining the role of energy in the various processes addressed. The part dedicated to understanding the mechanisms that influence the climate aims to make the student able to address critically the current debate on Global Warming. The second part is dedicated to the role of energy resources in the development of human societies and the environmental effects of the use of nuclear weapons.

At the end of the course the student will have developed knowledge on the fundamental concepts related to the energy systems in climate process, and to the nature and characteristics of renewable and fossil sorce for power production. The student will acquire skills that will enable him to apply this knowledge to environmental issues in terms of energetic policies and climate.