Course Identification

Clouds and aerosols (particles suspended in the atmosphere) play an important role in the Earth’s energy balance, in the hydrological cycle and in many important processes of the climate system. Aerosol, and clouds interact in series of complex feedbacks that make their research challenging.  

The course will cover aerosol cycle in the atmosphere (sources, sinks and transformation), basic cloud physics and aerosol cloud interactions (effect on rain formation, radiation and climate). 

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Understand basic processes related to formation, sinks and transport of atmospheric aerosol
2. Be familiar with aerosol types and how we affect the and being affected by the aerosol composition 
3. Understand basic processes in cloud physics
4. Be familiar with the main complexities in measuring and modeling cloud aerosol interactions      
5. Demonstrate understanding of the role of clouds and aerosols in the climate system
6. Know why the water vapour, cloud feedbacks are considered the critical response of the climate systems to global warming