Lecture 1: Introduction

Course Goal (1)

To develop an appreciation and basic
understanding of the factors that
contribute to the complexity and diversity
of the Earth system (natural and
anthropogenic), and to begin to explore
the possible solutions to environmental
problems and how those solutions are
linked to regional and global economic
and political issues.
Course Goal (2)
Factors determine the past and present
climates of the Earth system:
-Natural internal variability.
-Natural external forcing (solar and
volcano).
-Anthropogenic impact (human-induced).
Instructor and office
hours
Instructor : Dr. Iskhaq Iskandar,
M.Sc
Office : Physics Dept.
Office hours : Tuesday, 10 AM 4 PM.
E-mail :
iskandar.iskhaq@gmail.com
Phone : 0821 7958 6528
Class time : Tuesday, 1 PM 2.30 PM
Class location : D. 1201
Text Books and Meterial
Text books : - No specific text book.
- Some chapters from
several
text books.
- Reprints/publications.

Course material:
Please have a soft-copy of each class.
Lecture arrangements
There will be 16 classes :
6 classes Drs. Pradanto, DEA
10 classes Dr. Iskhaq Iskandar, M.Sc

Grading (1)
1. Exam; there will be a final exam at the
end of semester. Details will be
announced later.

Note: Expected to read the materials &
attend class lectures. Exams will be based
on information from the materials, class
lectures, and homework assignments.

Grading (2)
2. Assignments;
-2 homework assignments.
-Each assignment is due at the class ending time
(2:30pm), in a box provided by the instructor in
the front of the classroom.

FINAL GRADE:
-Exams : 40%
-Mid-term : 30%
-Assignments : Each 10%
-Attendance : 10%
Assignment rules
24hours late, 10% deduction;
24-48 hours late, 25% deduction;
Over 48 hours, NOT acceptable (you obtain a
zero point).

Identical homeworks are NOT acceptable.

Please turn in hard copies of your
assignments and staple them if they are more
than one page.

NO EXCUSE!!!!!
Syllabus:
1. Introduction.
2. Energy Transfers.
3. Laws of Thermodynamics.
4. Atmosphere and Radiations.
5. Indo-Pacific Climate Variations.
6. Greenhouse gases and Global Climate
Change.
7. Natural hazards.



Introduction to
Environmental
Physics
Sun-Atmosphere-
Earth System
The sun is the only energy
source driving the "system"
Earth, consisting of the
atmosphere, ocean and
land.

There is a very close
interaction between
these three areas;
however the processes
have very different time
scales from millions of
years (sedimentation) to
hours for atmospheric
phenomena.
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
Water is everywhere on earth
It is in the oceans, glaciers, rivers, lakes, the
atmosphere, soil, and in living tissue
All these reservoirs constitute the hydrosphere

The continuous exchange of water between the
reservoirs is called the hydrological cycle
The hydrological cycle is powered by the Sun
It comprises
Evaporation and transpiration
Precipitation
Percolation into ground
Run-off to the sea
Global Change: an
overview
Earth has always been changing:
significantly faster rate now than the past
throughout most of its 4.6 billion-year
history.

Causes for the faster change in recent
decades:
- human activities (anthropogenic forcing).
- Increased population & high technology
=> big impact.
Global change: an overview
1. Human-induced changes:
a) Global warming: Increased greenhouse gases
b) Ozone depletion: freon
c) Tropical deforestation

2. Three major themes
a) Global environmental issues
b) Climate in the past
c) The Earth system
TRANSFER OF ENERGY
CONDUCTION
Transfer of energy through matter
Air is a poor conductor
Only important at the Earth's surface

CONVECTION
Transfer of energy by movement of mass
Can only take place in fluids - e.g. Air
Energy transported upward by convective flow
Convection on a global scale creates worldwide
atmospheric circulation

ADVECTION
Horizontal movement of air

RADIATION




Convection
Advection
Fig. 2-5, p. 33
Phase
Changes
LATENT HEAT
Latent heat is the heat absorbed or released by unit
mass of water when it changes phase.

Latent heat of melting / fusion

Latent of vaporization / condensation

Latent heat of sublimation / deposition

All conversions are relevant in atmospheric physics
Discussion time!!!
Please ask any question!!!
You can ask in English!!!