- Docente: Tiziano Maestri
- Credits: 6
- SSD: PHYS-05/B
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
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Corso:
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in
Physics of the Earth System (cod. 6696)
Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Physics of the Earth’s Interior, Ocean and Atmosphere (cod. 6247)
Course contents
1.Introduction, basic definitions
•Summary of the basics
•Radiometry and Photometry
2.Spectroscopy
•Molecular energy levels
•Electric dipole•Rotational transitions
•Vibrational transitions
•Line Shapes•
3.Thermodynamic equilibrium
•LTE e NLTE
•Schwarzchild equation
•Curve of growth
•Complex RI
4.Shortwave RT
•Absorption of sw radiation
•Ozone cycle
•Heating rates
5.Rayleigh scattering
•Overview of scattering
•Rayleigh scattering
•Airlight
6.RT equation and Scattering
•RT equation for MS events
•The Mie solution
•Stokes parameters
7.Cloud properties
•Single scattering properties of single particles
•Particle size distributions
•Optical properties of cloud and aerosols
8.Reflectance from surface and thin clouds/aerosols
•BDRF
•Albedo
•Single scattering approximation
•aerosols
9.Polarization and Radar-lidar equation
•Polarization of light
•Active sensors
•Depolarization ratio
10.Longwave RT
•IR absorption and weighting functions
•LbL computations
•LW cooling rates
•Cooling rates in presence of clouds
10.Principles of inversion methods
•Direct linear inversion
•IR inversion problems•optimal estimation•regularizations
11.Advanced topics in Radiative Transfer
•General form of the RT equation
•Legendre polynomial
•Azimuth independent solution
•Approximate solutions of the RTE
•Two-stream approximation
•Similarity principle and 𝛿-function approximation
Readings/Bibliography
* T. Maestri, lectures notes on radiative transfer and remote sensing
* K.N.Liou: An introduction to atmospheric radiation. Academic Press
* K.N.Liou: Radiation and cloud processes in the atmosphere. Oxford University Press
Teaching methods
The program content (6 ects) will be discussed by using both the blackboard and the video projector.
Simple problems will be solved during the classes (or suggested as homework) to facilitate the understanding of the theoretical part of the program. During the lessons, the student will implement in coded algorithm the solving equations of the multiple problems proposed.
Possibly, Satellite data will be made available to the students to facilitate the interpretation of remote sensing measurements.
Assessment methods
The assessment of the student's learnings is performed by an oral test which serves to evaluate the achievements of the main objectives of the course:
*) understanding the fundamental laws regulating the radiative transfer in atmosphere
*) the ability to implement numerical solution of the proposed problems
*) the ability to interpret satellite remote sensing data and products of atmosphere and surface
The test will cover the whole program. The student can start the test by discussing a written work concerning a specific topic of radiative transfer modelling. The oral test will last at about 45-55 minutes.
Teaching tools
The following items will be available to the Students:
* Lectures notes (in pdf format).
* Scientific articles useful for the investigation of specific lines of research.
* Software algorithms (in MATLAB) for the numerical solution of specific problems.
* Bibliography and references
Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the University's dedicated support office in a timely manner (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ). The office will identify and propose any appropriate accommodations for eligible students. Such accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will assess their appropriateness, taking into account the intended learning outcomes of the course.
Links to further information
Office hours
See the website of Tiziano Maestri
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.