MTMACP: Air Pollution: Chemistry, Transport and Dispersion

Module code: MTMACP

Module provider: Meteorology; School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Bill Collins, email: w.collins@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Claire Ryder, email: c.l.ryder@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to develop a conceptual and quantitative understanding of the concepts of chemical and physical processing of atmospheric pollutants and their transport in the atmosphere.  This will range from local pollution sources to global scale changes in the composition of the atmosphere. We will look at the dispersion of pollutants from a point source, transport within the boundary layer and global-scale transport in the free troposphere. We will consider the chemical processing of pollutants, formation of ozone in polluted environments and destruction of ozone in the stratospheric ozone layer. 

The students will cover the quantitative physical & chemical aspects of pollution through processes including photochemistry, anthropogenic and biogenic emissions, wet and dry deposition; and transport mechanisms from the micro-scale and meso-scale to synoptic-scale and global-scale. The students will also understand the implications of pollution and how these are changing, from air quality levels in cities and how actions have improved these, to actions to reduce pollution globally and implications for climate change. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Explain the chemical, physical and cloud processing of atmospheric pollutants, and utilise rate equations to determine how composition changes; 
2. Describe and explain the transport mechanisms affecting the distribution of chemicals and aerosols in the atmosphere relating to meteorology; 
3. Use simple computer models to predict and explain air pollution changes;
4. Explain the reasons behind trends in pollution measurements in different locations, and how different actions to reduce pollution can be more or less effective. 

Module content

• Transport mechanisms: from local to global scales within the boundary layer, free troposphere and stratosphere; 
• Emissions, deposition and mixing of chemicals and aerosols; 
• Chemistry of the troposphere; 
• Stratospheric ozone depletion; 
• Anthropogenic and biogenic emissions; 
• Chemistry in clouds. 
• Health and other environmental impacts of atmospheric pollutants 
• Air quality policies 
• Computer modelling of atmospheric pollution 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• Lecture–based teaching 
• Computer-based practicals 
• Workshops 

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Groupwork on atmospheric transport case study.

Reassessment

Additional costs