B5893 - CHIMICA DELL'AMBIENTE E DEI CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will understand the concept of 'background levels' of natural chemical species; they will be able to recognize the compositional changes detectable in various environmental compartments following the release of xenobiotic substances or naturally occurring substances whose concentration levels have been altered by anthropogenic activities; they will understand the concept of 'biogeochemical cycling', which, taking into account the chemical-physical properties and reactivity of various classes of substances, determines their environmental fate.

Course contents

Atmospheric structure (vertical variation of intensive properties: T, P, density, RH%) - Detailed atmospheric composition (from volume percentages to ppt), its planetary evolution and current compositional changes - Concentration/reactivity relationship - units of measurement of concentrations. atmospheric, reference conditions atmospheric gaseous state - natural and anthropogenic sources - atmosphere as a heterogeneous system and its transience (role of water and particulate matter) - Atmospheric motions: space-time scales of atmospheric processes, transport/reactivity synergy in concentration variations of atmospheric species, mass balances and maximum transport distance probability - Atmospheric residence time: reconciling concentrations, chemical reactivity, and transport - Air pollutants and their sources - primary and secondary pollutants - Focus on: SO2, NOx, O3 (tropospheric and stratospheric (ozone hole and ozone depletion), H2, CO, CO2, CH4, volatile organic compounds, halogen derivatives - Atmospheric oxidative reactivity: the oxidizing capacities of the atmosphere and their connections with secondary species - relationship between atmospheric chemistry, air quality and ongoing climate change - Atmospheric particulate matter (aerosol): size distribution and Composition (macro and micro components) - Coarse, fine and ultrafine particulate matter - Standard particulate matter metrics: PM10, PM2.5, PM1 - Sources of primary and secondary particulate matter - Abiotic, biogenic and biological aerosols (bioaerosols) - Atmospheric residence time and environmental fate of particulate matter - Dry and wet deposition - Hygroscopicity of particulate matter: clouds, fog and hydrometeors (role of PM in the hydrological cycle) - Particulate pH, natural and contaminated rain, acid rain - Morphology of particulate matter - Externally and internally mixed particles - Methods for physical and chemical characterization of PM - Source apportionment methods (chemometrics applied to air pollution) - Climatically active atmospheric species: mechanisms of radiative interaction of atmospheric gases and particles - Earth's radiative balance - Greenhouse effect and global warming - Pollutants that are also greenhouse gases - Chemical control (atmospheric reactivity) on the greenhouse effect

Readings/Bibliography

The first three texts are mandatory, as are the four slide files when studying for the exam. The two books are useful for reference and clarification.

R.G. Prinn, 4.01 - Ozone, Hydroxyl Radical, and Oxidative Capacity,
Editor(s): Heinrich D. Holland, Karl K. Turekian, Treatise on Geochemistry, Pergamon, 2003, Pages 1-19, ISBN 9780080437514,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043751-6/04140-2

Frank Raes, Rita Van Dingenen, Elisabetta Vignati, Julian Wilson, Jean-Philippe Putaud, John H. Seinfeld, Peter Adams,
Formation and cycling of aerosols in the global troposphere,
Atmospheric Environment, Volume 34, Issue 25, 2000, Pages 4215-4240, ISSN 1352-2310, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(00)00239-9.

von Schneidemesser, E.; Monks, P. S.; Allan, J. D.; Bruhwiler, L.; Forster, P.; Fowler, D.; Lauer, A.; Morgan, W. T.; Paasonen, P.; Righi, M.et al.Chemistry and the Linkages between Air Quality and Climate Change. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115 (10), 3856– 3897, DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00089

The Atmospheric Chemist’s Companion: Numerical Data for Use in the Atmospheric Sciences, by Peter Warneck, Jonathan Williams, 2012. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. OCLC: 819592161. ISBN: 978-94-007-2274-3, 978-94-007-9377-4, 978-94-007-2275-0.

Seinfeld, J.H. and Pandis, S.N. (2016) Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics From Air Pollution to Climate Change (3rd Edition). John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken.

Teaching methods

Lectures supported by slides in 4 sections covering:

1) Structure and composition of the atmosphere - physical, chemical, and chemical-physical dynamics of the atmosphere - sources of atmospheric chemical components

2) Atmospheric reactivity - oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere

3) Atmospheric particulate matter: formation, composition, size distribution - morphology - role in the hydrological cycle through its chemical-physical properties - environmental and health issues - bioaerosols

4) Climate change - Greenhouse effect and global warming

The slides are the result of both the research and direct experience of the instructor, who has long been involved in environmental chemistry research, particularly the atmosphere (pollution and climate change) and environmental radioactivity. For this reason, the knowledge provided is extremely up-to-date and accurate in terms of content and transdisciplinarity, as demonstrated by her scientific output.

It is strongly recommended that you take written notes during lectures to use during your studies.

Assessment methods

The test consists of an oral exam divided into three questions/topics covering the entire program.

Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities are advised to contact the University Office responsible in a timely manner (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ). The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the students concerned. These accommodations must be submitted to the lecturer for approval at least 15 days in advance, and will be evaluated in light of the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

Whiteboard and PowerPoint presentations
Teaching materials: Slides (4 files) and PDFs containing background material to support the slides. All files are published on Insegnamenti virtuale.unibo.it. Please check the class spaces, announcements, and email regularly.

Office hours

See the website of Laura Tositti