Corso di laurea magistrale in Fisica

The basic courses of the first 3 years of the bachelor in Physics.

Meteorology, environmental Physics, and in general all courses of the environmental sector.

The course is aimed to give the physical-mathematical bases which regulate the behavior of the terrestrial atmosphere, pointing out on the phenomena connected to the stability (also by the point of view of the pollution), on the thermodynamic transformations, on the hygrometric variables and on the dynamics, pointing out on the different contribution of the forces involved in the dynamics of the atmosphere. A special section introduces the dimensional analysis and the similarity theory.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Acquisition of theoretical and applicative skills concerning the processes regulating the statics, the dynamics and the thermodynamics of the atmosphere, and management of the main equations on which such disciplines are based.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Acquisition of the ability to apply the theoretical knowledge of previous themes to the solution of problems, with a focus on atmospherically relavant issues.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS The student will develop their skills of quantitative analysis of phenomena. The student will also acquire the knowledge of the basic notions necessary to be able to make a conscious contribution to many socio-political decision-making processes that require scientific knowledge.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS Acquisition of oral and written communication skills and expertise, in italian, as well as the ability to use graphical and formal languages.
LEARNING SKILLS. Acquisition of autonomous learning capacity and self-assessment of its
preparation, in order to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.

Introduction. Eulerian and Lagrangian representation. Formation of the earth and its evolution. Atmospheric regions. Forces acting on the static atmosphere. Hydrostatic equilibrium. Equation of state for dry air. Equation of state for the actual air. Conventional temperatures: the virtual temperature. Gravitational potential energy. The geopotential. Barometric general formulations and scaling heights of the atmosphere. Various simplifications of atmosphere: homogeneous, isotherm, politropic. General barometric formula. Representations in pressure coordinates. Scale heights. Isentropic coordinates. Hygrometric variables. Thermodynamic transformations. Cyclical transformations. Isentropic processes. First principle of thermodynamics for the atmosphere. Reversible adiabatic transformations for saturated air. Potential temperature. Stability of the non-saturated atmosphere. First law of thermodynamics for adiabatic saturated processes in the atmosphere. Clapeyron equation. Infinitesimal adiabatic transformations for saturated air. Pseudo-adiabatic processes. Atmospheric stability for saturated and
not saturated adiabatic processes. Conventional temperatures. The atmospheric stability with the model of the layer. Convective instability and stability. The main real forces in the moving atmosphere. The apparent forces in the atmosphere. Uniform rotation relative motion. Reference systems non-inertial. Local coordinates. Vector equation of motion on the rotating Earth. Equation of motion in polar coordinates. Geostrophic approximation. Hydrostatic approximation. The equation of continuity. Equation of conservation of thermodynamic energy. Analysis of scale of the equations of conservation of momentum, mass and energy, thermodynamics, equation of continuity, equation of thermodynamics. Equations of dynamics in isobaric coordinates. Natural coordinates. Geostrophic flow.
Ciclostrophic flow. gradient Wind. Barocline and barotropic atmosphere: thermal wind. The vorticity. Circulation. The Kelvin theorem of the circulation. The dynamic equation of the vorticity. The potential vorticity. Law of conservation of the potential vorticity. Equation of the vertical component of the vorticity and its scale analysis. Dimensional analysis. Dynamic similarity and similarity theory. Physical models.

Frontal lessons in classroom (48 hours). Of these 48 hours, two may be dedicated to eventual visits to departmental laboratories (weather station on the terrace and Turlab laboratory), and two to eventual external seminars of which will be given information during the course.

Oral exams in classroom (usually with three questions, including one chosen by the student, pre-selected from a list of questions provided before the exam).

Eventual visits to laboratories or other experimental locations. Performing simple experiments in the classroom.

Conferences held by Prof. Cassardo on the topics: climate change, meteorology

Copies of the slides plus additional documents containing the description of topics covered in the lessons and applications will be given. All material will be posted on the Moodle platform. 

NOTICE: the videos of the previous year's recorded lessons of Physics of the Atmosphere is available on Moodle, searching for them by selecting the academic year and the code or name of the course.