Air Quality

Code:

AMB3005

Acronym:

AMB3005

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://elearning2.fc.up.pt/aulasweb0910/course/view.php?id=1345
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Sciences and Technology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:CTA	30	Plano estudos a partir do ano letivo 2016/17	3	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Scientific and technological training in physical, chemical and biological processes that occur in the natural and polluted atmosphere. Measurement and assessment of the air quality.

Specific aims for which the course unit must contribute 1- To know how to apply knowledge and understand problems 2- Capacity to solve problems and establish their own arguments 3- Capacity to collect, select and interpret relevant information on a particular subject in order to justified the solutions, including the analysis of social, scientific and ethical relevant issues. 4- Capacity to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, to the public consisting of specialists and non-specialists. 5- Acquiring skills for lifelong learning, with a high degree of autonomy.

Learning outcomes and competences

To allow the development of a scientific and technological understanding of the processes of the atmosphere ans its qualty. Characterize the quality of the atmosphere. To contribute for trainning professionals competent, versatile, and capable to analyze environmental problems, take wise decisions and find ecological and economically acceptable solutions.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Program

THEORETICAL PROGRAM

 

Part 1 - Composition of the natural environment

- Composition

- Concentration of atmospheric gases

 

Part 2 - Air Quality Regulations and regional and global atmospheric phenomena

 

- Radiation in the Atmosphere

Radiation of the Sun

Ozone and oxygen absorption spectrum

Absorption by oxygen and photolysis

Absorption by ozone and photolysis

Radiation Dispersion

 

- Chemistry in the Stratosphere

Stratosphere

Chapman's Cycle

Measure the concentration of O3

Stratospheric ozone loss: gas phase chemistry

The ozone hole in Antarctica

The ozone hole in the Arctic

International Conventions regulating "Ozone"

The future of stratospheric ozone

 

- Chemistry in the Troposphere

Troposphere

Ozone tropospheric photochemistry

Radical OH: the detergent in the atmosphere

Reaction of OH with CO

Reaction of OH with CH4

Nitrogen oxides and the production of tropospheric ozone

Oxidation at night

NOx Reservoirs and Conveyors: PAN

Photochemical smog

 

 

- Chemistry in Aerosols

Aerosols

Composition of aerosols

Oxidation of SO2

Aerosols and cloud formation

Reactions of gases in the particles

Impact of aerosols on health air quality (London Smog)

 

 

- Legislation on Air Quality

Ambient Air Quality - DL 102/2010 of 23 September

Indoor Air Quality - Portaria nº 353-A / 2013

 

 

Part 3 – Atmospheric aerosol

- Concept, importance, historical review, legal framework.

- Origin and characterization of particulate matter present in the atmosphere:
Natural atmospheric aerosol and anthropogenic, primary and secondary.
Sources of emission and models of distribution of the sources.
Emission, transport and removal processes.
Interaction with meteorological factors.

- Atmospheric monitoring:
Normative framework and methodology for sampling.
Techniques of quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Interaction with meteorological factors.
Monitoring networks.
Collection, interpretation and dissemination of results.

- Particular Matter and implications in society: Public Health, Climate and Climate Change, Ecosystems and Heritage.


Part 4 - Indoor Air Quality

Concept, importance, historical review, legal framework.
Origin and characterization of pollutants.
Normative framework and indoor air quality assessment.
Methodologies of evaluation and analysis.
Collection and interpretation of results. Study cases.

 

Part 5 – Environmental noise

 

Concept, importance, legal framework.

Measuring equipment and noise maps.

 

TP / PL PROGRAM

Requirements for the preparation of technical reports on air quality

Air mass trajectory analysis

Guides for determining IAQ and Air quality from DGA: Equipment and methods

 

Determination of NO2 concentration in ambient air

Determination of particles in ambient air (PM10)

Determination of pollutants in indoor air (VOCs and CO2)

Simulation of polluted atmospheres and evaluation of their effects

Evaluation of environmental noise

Group work on monitoring the concentration of pollutants in ambient air and indoor air.

Mandatory literature

Thad Godish, Wayne T. Davis, Joshua S. Fu; Air Quality, crc press, 2014. ISBN: 9781466584440
Daniel Vallero; Fundamentals of Air Pollution, Academic Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0124017337
Sofiev, M. & Bergmann, K.C. (eds.) ; Allergenic Pollen: A Review of the Production, Release, Distribution and Health Impacts, Springer Netherlands, 2012
Mandrioli, P.; Comtois, P. & Levizzani, V. (eds.) ; Methods in Aerobiology, Pitagora Editrice. Bologna., 1998
Godish, T.; Indoor Environmental Quality, CRC Press

Comments from the literature

Teaching methods and learning activities

In addition to formal classes, promotes the learning of the correct interpretation of the questions and planning the answers through the practice of answering to theoretical questions and problems resolution which also aim to: (a) encourage the study throughout the course, and (b) acquiring knowledge, the students acquired interest in the theme which helps to improve training and the final results. Practical works on subjects in the ambit of the curricular unit and their oral presentation are made by small teams (groups of students pre-defined). 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	106,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence in 75% of the total number of sessions.

Calculation formula of final grade

• Evaluation criterion: A- Exam grade: 70% B- Practical evaluation: 30%

 

• This criterion applies both to the 1 st season and time of appeal.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Internship work/project

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Special cases: final exam. 

Classification improvement

Final score improvement: Written exam. Final score: Exam score.

Observations