Units / EAE3121
EAE3121 · Atmospheric physics for weather and climate
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 3School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
The Earth’s radiation budget helps define our weather and climate, and changes in this budget are driving climate change and changes in extreme weather events. This unit examines the physics of radiative transfer and how its interactions with clouds and aerosols affect our climate and weather. This unit first examines the scattering, absorption and emission of radiant energy within the atmosphere and how this knowledge is employed by satellite and ground-based instrumentation to observe the atmosphere. The unit then focuses on aerosols, cloud microphysics and the development of precipitation, introducing satellite meteorology, radar meteorology and air pollution meteorology.
Areas of study: Climate and atmospheric science
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Project 1 - Radiative transfer modelling | Project | 15% | — |
| 2 | Project 2 - Aerosol spectrum analysis | Project | 15% | — |
| 3 | In-class test | Quiz / Test | 20% | — |
| 4 | Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes) | Examination | 50% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Describe the theory of radiative transfer in the atmosphere, including the processes of scattering, absorption and emission;
- Describe the theory of cloud microphysics and the development of precipitation in the atmosphere;
- Apply these theories to the fields of satellite meteorology and radar meteorology;
- Apply these theories to physics of climate change, including cloud-aerosol-climate interactions;
- Explain the concepts, processes and results of atmospheric physics to diverse audiences.
Workload
• Three hours of pre-class activities. These will be a mix of pre-recorded videos, activities, problem sets and readings; • One 3-hour laboratory/support class and • Six hours of private study/research time per week.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Laboratories | 36 hours |
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