Atmospheric Thermodynamics

The lecture covers a description of thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere as an ideal gas with a special emphasis on water vapour and water.

Detailed programme:

1. Composition and structure of the atmosphere. 

2. Ideal gas equation for the atmospheric air.

3. Basic issues in atmospheric thermodynamics. 

4. The use of thermodynamic principles in the analysis of atmospheric processes. 

5. Adiabatic processes in the atmosphere. Polytropic processes. Isobaric processes.

6. Thermodynamic of dry and wet air. Potential temperature, virtual temperature. 

7. Water in the atmosphere. Phase changes. Latent heat.

8. Ways of reaching saturation. Dew point temperature. Wet bulb temperature. Equivalent temperature. 

9. Thermodynamic diagrams.

10. Stability of the atmosphere. 

Salby M. L., Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics.  Academic Press.		Rogers, R.R. and M.K. Yau (1989). A Short Course in Cloud Physics. New York: Pergamon Press, 293 pp.		J.A. Curry and P.J. Webster Thermodynamics of Atmospheres and Oceanes. Academic Press.
H. R. Pruppacher and J. D. Klett. Microphysics of Cloud and Precipitation. Springer.		J.H. Seinfeld and S.N. Pandis. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. Wiley.		J. M. Wallace and P. V. Hobbs. Atmospheric Science. An Introductory Survey. Academic Press.
J.V. Iribarne and W.L. Godson. Atmospheric Thermodynamics. Springer.