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Phys650 -
Special Topics in Experimental Atmospheric Physics (Spring 2009):
(future PHYS 427/627: Atmospheric Physics Measurements: Instrumentation and Techniques)
Overview:
This course covers the design,
simulation, and execution of experiments in atmospheric physics and earth
sciences using teaching and research instrumentation. The students will be
exposed to the processes of development, construction, calibration, and
application of instrumentation for the measurement of relevant parameters of
the atmosphere. Students will also use state of the art instrumentation from
the atmospheric research laboratories connected to the department.
Main Objectives:
- Bottom up development of
experimental techniques starting from basic physical concepts through the
development of a dedicated apparatus, its calibration, measurement, data
analysis and interpretation;
- Provide training in advanced
laboratory techniques on current research instrumentation for atmospheric
physics;
- Introduction to the
development, design, and execution of Ground Based, Aircraft, and Satellite
Missions.
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Schedule and Course Structure:
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Location:
Physics 213 or other scheduled location for specific experiments.
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Regular
Classes: Wednesday 9:00 – 11:30AM
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9:00-10:00 Discussion
of previous experiment and student reports (PDF file sent by students the day
before), theory and discussion of next activities
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10:00-11:30 Hands
on activities
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Open Lab: Wednesday 11:30-15:00 the lab will be open
for students to work on their projects or on their weekly experiments. This
is equivalent to homework and library work in theoretical classes. Additional
laboratory time can be scheduled if needed.
Instrumentation Project: Each student is supposed to design,
build, calibrate, and use instrumentation to measure optical properties of
the atmosphere. A term paper and an oral presentation of the project will be
required at the end of the course.
Course Grading:
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Class participation and short weekly reports
(typically 3-5 pages including figures and tables) of relevant results and
analysis should be sent to the instructors in a PDF file the day before class
until noon. These results will be discussed during class (50%).
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Project execution (25%).
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Oral presentation of the project in the last class
(10%).
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Term paper describing the project and main results in
a format similar to a Journal publication (15%).
Hint:
Start early and keep up with the
Course Project! The project is a great tool for learning and to expose
you to new challenges. Work as much as you can with the course instructors in
order to develop, design, and execute your project.
Outline Syllabus:
- Advanced statistical methods for Data and Error
Analysis
- Instrumentation Design and Specification
- Introduction to Atmospheric Radiative
Transfer concepts and simulation techniques
- Basic concepts and techniques for In
situ measurements and remote sensing of atmospheric properties:
- Measurement of atmospheric aerosols,
gases, and cloud properties (in situ and remote sensing)
- Measurement of Physical properties of
the atmosphere (temperature, pressure, humidity, wind, radiation, etc.):
surface, aircraft, and radiosonde instrumentation.
- Spectroscopic measurements of gases
and physical properties of the atmosphere
Potential Laboratory Experiments:
- PM10 and PM2.5 Local Aerosol
Characterization
- Scanning Electron Microscopy
- Radiometric Calibration of Optical
Instruments
- Light Scattering - Laboratory and
Remote Sensing
- Integrated Scattering and Phase
Function of aerosols and Clouds
- Use and analysis of IR spectrometric
data
- BRDF and Spectral Reflectances
- Physical parameters of the Atmosphere
(temperature, pressure, RH, wind, radiation)
- Radiometry from Space: Mission Design and Requirements
- Invited Lecture: Backstage of a Space
Mission
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Course
textbooks and references
Handouts,
articles and references will be provided for each class. There is no assigned
course textbook for this class. There are, however, several highly
recommended references that will be discussed during the classes. We always
recommend you to read something about the subject before the following
class.
Lab
Notebooks
You are
required to obtain and use a standard laboratory notebook for this course.
The best ones typically have a brown hard-paper cover, and roughly 100 sheets
of ~ 9 1/4 X 11 3/4 inch graph paper. The UMBC bookstore sells laboratory
notebooks for $16; they can also be obtained at many office supply
stores.
Laboratory
notebooks are an essential part in any experimental research. It’s not easy
to get in the habit of writing everything down, but it's incredibly
worthwhile. You'll learn it first-hand when you sit down a few days later to
write up your lab reports. Before leaving each week, I may want to
sign-off on your lab notebooks. You should make every effort to
record and describe everything you are doing (a good model is to assume you
will return to your notebook after 10 years, and then eventually be willing
to reproduce, or understand your results!). Write down anything and
everything that seems important, including some stuff that doesn't seem so
important (personal notes, opinions, ideas, etc.).
Your
lab notebook should look more or less like the one pictured in Figure 1, full
of notes, numbers, data, and lots and lots of figures. Draw or take
pictures of everything! Any printed output, like digital pictures, graphs and
tables should be printed and taped in. Notice that lab-notebooks have
numbered pages. This eases cross referencing and avoids ripping pages out.
And a last advice: don’t erase any notes out. Just cross them out. They may
be useful sometime.
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Figure
1. Photograph of a lab notebook. Note that there are lots of figures, data,
and plots. Good lab-notebook techniques are an important part of your
professional skills!
(*) Adapted from Dr. Todd Pittman
, PHYS 330L, UMBC Optics Laboratory
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Reports
Short weekly pdf reports: You have to write short
weekly lab reports (with relevant pictures, data and data analysis) for each
experiment. A pdf file of these
short reports should be sent by e-mail to the instructors until noon, the day
before class. Highlights of all pdf reports will be discussed in class. While
it is not always necessary to get a “right answer” to receive a high grade,
poorly written reports will ensure a poor grade.
Project term paper: You have to submit a term
paper, and prepare an oral presentation about your project. The term paper will be due one week after
the oral presentation. The grading will be based on the quality of the
experimental work, the technical writing and your oral presentation. Though
the project and the oral presentation will be developed in group, the term
paper is individual and should reflect your own writing style and
comprehension. The paper is to be written for an audience of the area that is
assumed to have some scientific background, but do not know your particular
experiment or ideas. There are many resources on the net on how to write a
report or a term paper. We strongly recommend you to search for them.
Safety*
Although
we do not anticipate any problems, it is important to realize that we will be
working in an active laboratory environment which can always pose certain
risks. Our primary goal is to ensure our safety in the lab. Some of the
equipment relies on high voltages and current and proper precautions must be
taken at all times. If you are unsure about the operation of any equipment
or tools, please ask the instructor or support staff for help. The basic
rule is to be over-careful.
Some of
our experiments will involve the use of lasers and UV light sources. No
matter how “weak” the source seems to be it can always cause serious damage
to the human eye. Never look directly into a laser beam, no matter how many
times it has been reflected or how small a laser system is (even a laser
pointer). Always wear laser goggles when they are needed. Do not take
shortcuts with laser safety.
For
some of our calibrations and experiments we may also use other light sources
like integrating spheres, special lamps, fiber illuminators, etc. Never
underestimate the potential for eye damage of any light source. Many of these
sources are important source of UV radiation and must be properly handled. Always wear safety goggles as instructed.
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1. When using a laser or an UV
source, be sure to turn on the “Laser In Use” sign that hangs outside the
lab. This will alert visitors to the fact that a laser is turned on inside
the laboratory.
2. Familiarize yourself with
the location and contents of the first aid kit. It is mounted on a wall in
the Foyer area of Rooms 213 & 214, and contains bandages, cleansers, etc.
3. The labs are equipped with
a master “kill switch'”. Familiarize yourself with the location of these
switches. They are the big red buttons located just inside the laboratory
doors. Pushing this button cuts off all power to the room. Don't worry, they
do not shut down the entire building! In the event of an emergency, please use
the “kill switch'” if appropriate.
Multi-user
laboratory work needs some kind of “good
neighborhood code”.
1.
Return
all used materials to their original location. Keep the laboratory and
specially your working area clean and organized. Return all tools to the tool
box after use.
2.
If
you have to keep some material or instrument leave a note on the material’s
original location indicating your name, date of removal, and a phone number
to contact you; Many laboratories have a “lend book” where you are supposed
to make a note of any material taken from the lab.
3.
No
food, drinks, etc in the laboratory;
4.
Try
to read the manual BEFORE turning on any unknown equipment;
5.
Draw
special attention to chemicals, mercury (thermometers), radioactive
materials. In case of a spillage, look for knowledgeable help (do not
improvise!).
6.
Accidents
happen. If you break an instrument (for whatever reason) or you find out it
is not working properly, leave a note on the instrument indicating clearly
what is not working and assure the instrument is directed to maintenance;
Much worse than breaking something is not telling anybody!
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Error analysis
Error
analysis is a key part of any experimental work. You are expected to perform
error analysis for your results. Results should always be stated in forms
like, “distance Y is (2.0 ± 0.2) m”, rather than “Y about 2 m long”. You are
expected to discriminate instrumental errors, systematic errors, and
statistical errors in all experiments. You may use any method for error
propagation, as long as correctly applied. The text Introduction to Error
Analysis, by John R. Taylor, is available in the Alvin Meckler reading
room in the Physics
Building.
Academic
Integrity
As with
all courses, Academic Integrity is required in PHYS650:
By
enrolling in this course, each student assumes the responsibilities of an
active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in which everyone's academic
work and behavior are held to the highest standards of honesty. Cheating, fabrication,
plagiarism, and helping others to commit these acts are all forms of academic
dishonesty, and they are wrong. Academic misconduct could result in
disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or
dismissal. To read the full Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult the UMBC
Student Handbook, the Faculty Handbook, or the UMBC Policies section of the
UMBC Directory.
The issue of academic integrity, particularly with regards
to plagiarism, can be confusing in writing up lab reports. This is primarily
due to the fact that the expectations can be different for different courses.
In this course, you are supposed to work together as a team as much as
possible on everything except the actual writing of the term paper. The term
paper should be written entirely by you. In almost all cases, the members of
a team will have the same data in their lab notebooks; It is therefore
entirely reasonable that the members of a team will have the same “results”.
Working together in obtaining these results is encouraged. However, the team
members must not share in the writing of the lab reports. Each person must
write up her or his lab report by themselves. This is a key part of your
educational experience in this course. Do not forget to include adequate
references in your lab reports. Remember that using but forgetting to cite a
reference could be seen as plagiarism.
(*)
Material adapted from Dr. Todd Pittman , PHYS
330L, UMBC Optics Laboratory
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