Universität Wien

260006 SE Physics and chemistry of clouds (2025W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
We 10.12. 11:15-12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Note: The introductory lecture (first session) of the class will take place on Wed, 8 October 2025, at 11:15 in Seminarraum 1, Zi. 3158.

  • Wednesday 01.10. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 08.10. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 15.10. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 22.10. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 29.10. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 05.11. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 12.11. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 19.11. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 26.11. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 03.12. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 17.12. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 07.01. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 14.01. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien
  • Wednesday 21.01. 11:15 - 12:45 Berta-Karlik-Seminarraum, Zi.3158, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1. Stk., 1090 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this seminar, students will acquire in-depth knowledge related to the topic of clouds. The contents include: cloud formation, cloud types and their relevance to weather and climate, weather phenomena, cloud microphysics, properties of cloud condensation nuclei, Köhler theory, influence of aerosol particles on cloud microphysics, formation of precipitation, radiation properties and radiation balance, geoengineering.

Aims of the seminar:
• After completing the seminar, students should be able to answer the following questions about clouds:
o What types of clouds are there?
o How do clouds form?
o How do clouds interact with the atmosphere and climate?
o How do aerosol particles interact with clouds?
• Independent development of complex content
• Presentation of scientific contents
• Leading a scientific discussion on a topic
• Scientific argumentation

Method: Discussion of agreed topics prepared by students for each course unit.

Students prepare independently on a topic area. Each seminar unit begins with a 15-minute presentation by students on the topic of the unit. Subsequently, questions on the topic are discussed in break-out groups, and the results of this breakout sessions are presented and discussed in the plenum.

Assessment and permitted materials

Course with immanent character

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirements
- Compulsory attendance, unexcused absence is allowed twice
- Submission of "note sheets" / "Notizzettel"
- Presentation is mandatory
- Active participation in the discussion during the seminar unit
- Understanding of the topics discussed

Assessment criteria
- Preparation of course units (including submission of "note sheets")
- Presentation
- Participation in discussions (constructive, technically correct contributions and engagement in the discussions of the presentations)

In order to attain a positive grade at least 60% of the total points must be achieved.

The grading key for assessment is:
Very good: 91% – 100%
Good: 81% – 90,99%
Satisfactory: 71% – 80,99%
Sufficient: 60% – 70.99%
Not sufficient: <60%

Examination topics

All contents covered in the course.

Reading list

Ausgewählte Kapitel aus den folgenden Büchern:
Ulrike Lohmann, Felix Lüönd und Fabian Mahrt. An introduction to clouds: from the microscale to climate. 1. Aufl. 2016. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. (als eBook verfügbar: https://doi-org.uaccess.univie.ac.at/10.1017/CBO9781139087513

Boucher, Oliver. Atmospheric Aerosols: Properties and Climate Impacts, Springer Netherlands, 2015 (als eBook verfügbar: https://doi-org.uaccess.univie.ac.at/10.1007/978-94-017-9649-1 ).

Wallace and Hobbs, Atmospheric Science: an Introductory Survey, Elsevier Inc., 2006. (als eBook verfügbar: https://www-sciencedirect-com.uaccess.univie.ac.at/book/9780127329512/atmospheric-science).

Verwandte Literatur:

Pruppacher and Klett, Microphysics of clouds and precipitation. Springer Dordrecht, 2010 (als eBook verfügbar: https://link-springer-com.uaccess.univie.ac.at/book/10.1007/978-0-306-48100-0).

Atkins, Peter W. und Julio de Paula. Übers. von Michael Bär: Physikalische Chemie. 5. Aufl. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH ; 2013 (als eBook verfügbar: https://ubdata.univie.ac.at/AC10685500).

Roedel, Walter, and Thomas Wagner. Physik Unserer Umwelt: Die Atmosphäre. 5. Aufl. Berlin: Springer Spektrum, 2017 (als eBook verfügbar: https://ubdata.univie.ac.at/AC12331655).

Meschede, Dieter: Gerthsen Physik. 25. Aufl. 2015. Neuauflage 2015. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg ; 2015. (als eBook verfügbar: https://link-springer-com.uaccess.univie.ac.at/book/10.1007%2F978-3-662-45977-5 ).

Mortimer, Robert G.: Physical chemistry. 2. ed. San Diego, Calif.: Harcourt. 2000 (als eBook verfügbar: https://ubdata.univie.ac.at/AC10821328).

Dennis Lamb und Johannes Verlinde: Physics and Chemistry of Clouds. 1. Aufl. 2011. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011 (als eBook verfügbar: https://doi-org.uaccess.univie.ac.at/10.1017/CBO9780511976377).

Weitere relevante Literatur wird in der Lehrveranstaltung bzw. auf Moodle bekannt gegeben.

Association in the course directory

M-VAF A 2, M-VAF B, UF MA PHYS 01a, UF MA PHYS 01b, Doktorat Physik

Last modified: Mo 01.12.2025 16:46