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GL5064: SPECTROSCOPY, RADIATIVE TRANSFER AND RETRIEVAL (2023-2024)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43


Course Overview

Spectroscopy, radiative transfer and retrieval methods are rapidly growing fields with extreme importance in atmospheric and planetary science. They are fundamental to study weather, climate, air quality on Earth, the evolution of greenhouse gases and biogeochemical cycles on Earth. They provide information about the physics and evolution of the atmospheres of the solar system planets and exoplanets at a larger scale. This course will provide the fundamental knowledge to a depth that will leave a student with the background to perform quantitative research on atmospheres. It spans across principles through applications, with sufficient background for students without prior experience in spectroscopy or radiative transfer.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Javier Martin-Torres

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Remote sensing and modelling, and retrieval of the atmospheric composition of the planets require detailed knowledge of how radiation and matter interact in planetary atmospheres. In particular, one should know: (i) how stellar or thermal radiation propagates through atmospheres: (ii) how that propagation affects radiative forcing of climate; (iii) how atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases produce unique spectroscopic signatures; and (iv) how the properties of atmospheres may be quantitatively measured how those measurements relate to physical properties.

The course will be accompanied by the development of increasingly sophisticated atmospheric and spectroscopic modelling capability. The students will develop practical computer model simulation of atmospheric Earth/Solar System planets/exoplanet spectra from microwave through ultraviolet, depending on their interests.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Paper on modelling or retrieval

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Assessment component C

Review of paper as per International Journal.

Assessment - End of course, so after feedback on first two exercises, whichever is earlier.

Feedback - End of course

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralCreateEnhance visual presentation skills.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluation of practical retrieval of atmospheric species.
ReflectionCreateEnhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills.
ReflectionCreateChallenging published investigations and interpretations against one’s own observations and deductions.

Presentation about spectroscopy

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Assessment component A

Lab book with exercises submitted online. Individual feedback online, general in tutorials.

 

Assessment - week 3 of 1st sub-session

Feedback - week 4 of 1st sub-session

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalysis of measurements and comparison with models.
ConceptualApplyUse of radiative transfer models and retrievals.
ConceptualApplyUnderstand relation between radiation and climate
ConceptualApplyUnderstand the fundaments radiation and spectroscopy.
ReflectionCreateEnhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills.

Calculation of planetary spectra or development of atmospheric retrieval

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Assessment component B

Assessment - week 5 of 1st sub-session

Feedback - week 7 of 1st sub-session

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseAnalysis of measurements and comparison with models.
ConceptualApplyUnderstand relation between radiation and climate
ConceptualApplyUnderstand the fundaments radiation and spectroscopy.
ConceptualApplyUse of radiative transfer models and retrievals.
ReflectionCreateEnhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed elements of assessment.

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Original element weightings

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyUnderstand the fundaments radiation and spectroscopy.
ConceptualApplyUnderstand relation between radiation and climate
ConceptualApplyUse of radiative transfer models and retrievals.
ConceptualAnalyseAnalysis of measurements and comparison with models.
ProceduralEvaluateEvaluation of practical retrieval of atmospheric species.
ReflectionCreateChallenging published investigations and interpretations against one’s own observations and deductions.
ReflectionCreateEnhancement of critical thinking and reasoning skills.
ProceduralCreateEnhance visual presentation skills.

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