Course Title: The Atmosphere

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: The Atmosphere

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ENVI1011

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015

ENVI1011

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020

Course Coordinator: Dr Jeff Hughes

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3370

Course Coordinator Email: jeff.huges@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 3.2.16


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You should have satisfactorily completed the courses CHEM1015 and ENVI1146 before you commence this course.

Alternatively you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.  Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.  For further information go to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Higher Education.


Course Description

This course forms an integral part of a multidisciplinary approach to understanding earth system processes and the connections that exist between the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere.   In this course you will study the structure and modelling of the atmosphere, the major chemical reactions within it, pollution (indoor and outdoor air), measurement, and aspects of meteorology and climate modelling.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the development of the following Program Learning Outcomes at AQF level7:

 PLO 1: Understanding science.

PLO 1.2 Demonstrate a coherent understanding of environmental science and be able to explain the role of environmental science in the community.

PLO 2: Scientific knowledge.

PLO 2.1 Exhibit depth and breadth of environmental science knowledge.

PLO 3: Inquiry and problem solving.

PLO 3.1 Critically analyse and solve problems in environmental science.

PLO 4: Communication.

PLO 4.1 Be an effective communicator of environmental sciences.

PLO 5: Persona land professional responsibility.

PLO 5.1 Be accountable for individual learning and scientific work in environmental science.

 


After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

  1. demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of the structure of the atmosphere, the processes which occur within it and the influence they have on the climate and the weather;
  2. demonstrate knowledge of the causes and effects of human impacts on the composition and behaviour of the atmosphere;
  3. demonstrate ability to gather, synthesize and critically evaluate information from a range of sources;
  4. demonstrate ability to collect, accurately record, interpret and draw conclusions from scientific data you have collected yourself or sourced from the literature;
  5. demonstrate ability to be independent and self-directed learner

 


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities may include any or all of the following:

  • attendance at lectures and lectorials,
  • active and peer to peer learning, including oral presentations to class
  • participation in discussion groups,
  • making use of self-help review questions,
  • preparation of written assignments,
  • online quizzes and reading the literature in order to prepare a literature review.

Total Study Hours

Teacher guided hours (lectures, lectorials) 48 hrs/semester, Practical and field excursions 16 hours/semester (2 days)

Learner directed hours: (revision of online learning resources and class material, assignment exercises, preparation for examination and online assessment , study of published environmental data) 72 hours/semester


Overview of Learning Resources

You will have access to on-line material which will include the lecture material, references and reading resources.

These can be accessed through the Canvas site for this course

 


Overview of Assessment

 

 

Note that:

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment for this course are

Meteorology

(a) Formative Meteorology Assessment (20%)

A series of 4 quizzes, supporting CLOs 2,3,4,5

(b) Summative Meteorology Assessment (30%)

A written assignment supporting CLOs 1,2,3,4,5

Global

c)  One 2 hour exam (25%)

                 Assessment task (a) supports CLOs 1,2,3,5

(d)  One global online quiz (10%)

               Assessment task (b) supports CLOs 2,3,4,5

 (e)One global assignments (15%)

               Assessment task (c) supports CLOs 1,2,5