Physics of the atmosphere

The course unit aims at introducing students to the most relevant topics of atmospheric physics. The goal is to provide them the conceptual bases to understand the most relevant radiative, thermodynamic and dynamic processes regulating the behavior of Earth's atmosphere. The course unit also aims at introducing students to the observation of Earth's atmosphere. This goal is addressed along all the lectures and it makes wide use of meteorological information from the WEB.

At the end of the course uit, students must first understand how Earth's atmosphere is monitored and which variables are used to describe it. Students must then understand the most relevant radiative, thermodynamic and dynamic processes regulating the behavior of Earth's atmosphere. Students must finally be aware that the understanding of these processes allows setting up a system of differential equations allowing to forecast the future state of Earth's atmosphere starting from an initial observed state.