Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 Hours. lectures |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 3 seminars |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 1 Hours. poster presentation workshop |
| Practical | 6 Hours. practicals |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Examination | 70% |
| Semester Assessment | Worksheets | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | poster presentation | 10% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours examination | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Explain how observations enable us to probe planetary interiors.
2. Explain the balance of energy in an atmospheric system.. Solve simple problems in radiative transfer.
3. Explain the vertical structure of the neutral atmosphere in terms of the underlying physics.
4. Discuss the factors controlling fluid flow above a planetary surface.
5. Use a computational modelling suite to derive flow patterns above a planetary susrface, display the results using a visualisation system and interpret them in terms of the underlying physics.
6. Use the model results to plan the best path for an airbourne planetary robot to follow above the terrain for specificexperiment targets.
7. Present the results in poster form.
Brief description
This course will provide students with an overview of planetary atmospheric science, including the constraints on robotic planetary exploration and the use of computational modelling of planetary atmospheres.
Content
Vertical structure. Hydrostatic equilibrium and scale heights. Atmospheric layers.
Planetary atmospheres - differences from Earth.
Atmospheric flow - fluid mechanics as applied to atmospheres.
Modelling planetary atmospheres - approaches and constraints.
Interpreting model results for flow over a planetary surface.
Reading List
Recommended TextHargreaves, J.K. (1995) The solar-terrestrial environment: an introduction to geospace-the science of teh terrestrial upper atmosphere, ionosphere and the magnetosphere Primo search Hartmann,W.K. Moons and Planets Wadsworth Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5