Courses
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Compulsory Module 1: Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences and Mathematics (5 ECTS-Credits; 4 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students have an overview of the processes in the atmosphere that determine weather, climate and climate changes. They can describe and explain the basics of elementary mathematics and thus solve elementary mathematical problems in physics and atmospheric sciences.
Compulsory Module 2: Linear Algebra (7.5 ECTS-Credits; 6 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students master the basic concepts of linear algebra and can use them to solve problems in this area. They are able to work independently on similar content and can select suitable methods of linear algebra to use them for solving problems in physics and atmospheric sciences
Compulsory Module 3: Analysis 1 (7.5 ECTS-Credits; 6 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students master the basic concepts of analysis and can use them to solve problems in this area. They are able to work on similar content independently and can select suitable methods of differential and integral calculus in a variable to use them for solving problems in physics and atmospheric sciences.
Compulsory Module 4: Mechanics and Thermodynamics (10 ECTS-Credits; 6 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students are able to describe the basics of classical physics (mechanics and thermodynamics) and can explain the associated concepts. They are able to transfer their knowledge and solve problems in mechanics and thermodynamics.
Compulsory Module 5: Analysis 2 (10 ECTS-Credits, 6 h)
(no courses)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students master the basic terms of differential and integral calculus and integral theorems and can use these, including basic topological terms, to solve problems in analysis. They are able to work on similar content independently and can select suitable methods of analysis in several variables to use them for solving problems in physics and atmospheric sciences.
Compulsory Module 6: Mathematical Methods in Physics 1 (7.5 ECTS-Credits; 5 h)
(no courses)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students are able to describe and apply simple mathematical methods of physics. In particular, they are able to use methods of probability theory, ordinary differential equations, Fourier series and to apply integral and vector analysis in linear spaces to problems in physics and atmospheric sciences and to work on similar content independently.
Compulsory Module 7: Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Radiation (7.5 ECTS-Credits; 5 h)
(no courses)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students can analyse the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere and know the life cycle of clouds.
The students understand the basics of electromagnetic radiation and its interactions with the earth's atmosphere. They know the physical principles that determine the Earth's radiation budget and a selection of remote sensing methods for observing the Earth's atmosphere system. They can analyse and interpret respective data sets.
Compulsory Module 8: Statistical Data Analysis and Programming (12.5 ECTS-Credits; 7 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students have an overview knowledge in the field of statistics and are able to analyse, discuss and solve simple statistical problems and data analyses from different subject areas using suitable statistical software.
Students can read and write programmes in any of the open source programming languages used in atmospheric science. They can install a programming environment with appropriate additional packages on their computer and thus solve scientific problems. Above all, they are able to independently expand and advance their programming skills.
Compulsory Module 9: Atmospheric Dynamics and Weather Forecasting 1 (10 ECTS-Credits; 6 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students know the types and causes of atmospheric currents. They understand the physical principles underlying the description of atmospheric flows and can apply them to simple equilibrium flows. They know the meaning and description of rotation processes in the atmosphere.
The students understand the processes underlying the weather systems in mid-latitudes, can analyse past and current weather situations and predict future weather from the hemisphere to frontal scales using numerical and statistical weather forecast data.
Compulsory Module 10: Atmospheric Chemistry (10 ECTS-Credits; 6 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students understand the meaning, role and life cycles of trace gases and aerosols in the atmosphere and their importance for the radiation budget of the atmosphere, cloud formation and air pollution. They can determine significant chemical reactions for this.
Compulsory Module 11: Atmospheric Dynamics and Weather Forecasting 2 (15 ECTS-Credits; 9 h.)
(no courses)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students know which processes on different spatial scales have a dominant influence on atmospheric currents. They understand the different modelling approaches for this and can explain the examples discussed. They are able to explain the predictability of the state of the atmosphere.
The students understand the processes that drive the exchange of energy, mass and momentum between the earth's surface and the atmosphere within the planetary boundary layer. They know the different states of the planetary boundary layer and the role that different surface types and flow conditions play in it. They have a basic understanding of theoretical approaches and parameterisations. They can interpret measurements of the boundary layer.
Students understand the processes that drive weather systems on the meso and convection scales. They can analyse current and past weather situations in these scales with the help of data from various measurement platforms and create forecasts.
Compulsory Module 12: Climate System (10 ECTS-Credits; 7 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students know the components of the climate system as well as their interactions and time scales. They understand the energy balance and the circulation of the atmosphere and the oceans and their variability. They can apply simple greenhouse models. The students understand the drivers and scales of climate change. They can evaluate proxy and measurement data to determine the changes and understand the structure, application and limits of climate models and the procedure for creating climate projections.
Students know the properties and relative importance of the various components of the cryosphere and understand how they interact with the climate system. The students receive an introduction to simple glacier models and can analyse the simulated glacier behaviour. They can evaluate the importance of the cryospheric feedback on the oceans and the atmosphere.
Compulsory Module 13: Applied Methods (12.5 ECTS-Credits; 7 h)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students are familiar with the standards of good scientific practice, understand the structure and creation process of a scientific paper, know the principles of a good scientific writing style and can create and give scientific presentations.
The students identify and understand the connection between selected meteorological measurement methods and the underlying physical concepts. They can acquire further knowledge about observation and measurement methods in atmospheric sciences from specialist literature. They can calibrate sensors, program a measuring system and use it to carry out measurements, evaluate their quality and document and discuss the measuring experiment.
The students can analyse the development of the current weather situation and independently create forecasts for the weather for the next few days.
For Individual Choice of Specialisation, courses from other Bachelor¿s programmes in the fields of geo and atmospheric sciences, computer sciences, data science and statistics, mathematics, nature and engineering sciences, theory of science and philosophy of science as well as economy offered at the University of Innsbruck may be selected. In addition, courses from the field of gender research may be taken. Providing the availability of places, a minor (30 ECTS-Credits) for Bachelor¿s programmes as published in the University of Innsbruck Bulletin or individual courses of the minors may be passed.
Compulsory Module 14: Individual Choice of Specialisati (30 ECTS-Credits)
(no courses)
Prerequisites for registration: none
Learning Outcome: The students have knowledge and skills outside of the core areas of atmospheric sciences, with which they can solve complex and unpredictable problems in an interdisciplinary manner. They understand the challenges posed by climate change and resource scarcity and can apply, analyse and evaluate possible solutions. They have the skills to solve complex tasks in teams in a multilingual and cultural environment.
Compulsory Module 15: Seminar with Bachelor's Thesis (15 ECTS-Credits; 1 h)
(no courses)
Prerequisites for registration: compulsory module 8
Learning Outcome: The students can independently write a written paper on a specific issue from the field of atmospheric sciences that meets the requirements of good scientific practice. They apply suitable research methods and research and synthesise the relevant literature on this topic. They can present motivation, goals, methods and results of the written work in a lecture in a clear fashion for a specialist audience and answer critical questions about it.
Notes:
- There may still be changes in the courses offered as well as room allocation and course dates.
- The course descriptions found in the English version of the course catalogue are for informational purposes only. Authoritative information can be found in the "Vorlesungsverzeichnis" (German version of the course catalogue).