ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 4 Expository Class: 14 Interactive Classroom: 18 Total: 36
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary subject Master’s Degree RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Chemistry Engineering
Areas: Chemical Engineering
Center Higher Technical Engineering School
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
The subject of "Atmospheric Environment", of 4.5 ECTS, is framed as an optional subject within Module 1 "Basis", as the only subject of the Master's Degree that addresses in a coordinated and comprehensive way the knowledge and non-instrumental techniques required for the analysis and evaluation of atmospheric pollution.
Thus, the general objective of this subject is to provide the student with the necessary fundamentals and techniques that every Environmental Engineer must know and apply, in order to address problems related to air pollution from an engineering point of view. Taking into account that the atmosphere is the natural means of gas purification par excellence, whose capacity for dilution, transformation and elimination of pollutants must always be considered in any environmental problem related to air pollution.
Thus, the student who takes this subject will know, understand and apply:
(a) The fundamentals of the atmospheric environment, its pollutants and control strategies, as well as the physical and chemical processes experienced by pollutants in the Earth's atmosphere, which are essential in the assessment of air pollution.
b) The most current non-instrumental techniques related to the analysis and evaluation of air pollution: Inventories of atmospheric emissions, meteorological models and air quality models.
Specific objectives (by blocks)
The specific objectives of each block of the subject are then introduced, for which the contents of each one are first detailed and, in relation to them, the objectives to be achieved in their learning are summarised in a table.
I. Air pollution and sources of emission
In this block, the structure and composition of the Earth's atmosphere is first studied, which defines clean tropospheric air. The basic concepts that are handled in air pollution are introduced, as well as the strategies applied in its prevention and control. Secondly, the systematic classification of the sources of air pollution emissions and the inventories of atmospheric emissions are addressed.
II. Atmospheric chemistry and physics
In this second block, atmospheric pollutants and the chemical mechanisms that allow their elimination or transformation into secondary pollutants are classified. Subsequently, large-scale atmospheric flux and its influence on the levels of atmospheric pollutants are studied. It ends with the techniques related to meteorological models used in weather prediction and in the analysis of atmospheric pollution, through the interpretation of meteorological maps.
III. Atmospheric dispersion and air quality models
Although the study of air pollution problems involves multiple physical and chemical processes in the Earth's atmosphere, those related to atmospheric dispersion especially condition air quality. Therefore, this block specifically addresses these processes. Finally, the consideration of all the physical and chemical processes experienced by pollutants in the atmosphere requires mathematical modelling for their understanding and analysis. That is why this block introduces air quality models, as an essential technology in the evaluation of air pollution, which is also applied today in its prevention and control.
IV. Air pollution modelling laboratory
The fourth block is of a totally practical nature, to be developed in the Computer Room (A.I.), and it addresses various specific cases related to the estimation of atmospheric emissions, air quality modelling and its application.
BLOCK / OBJECTIVES
I. Air pollution and emission sources:
- Structure and composition of the Earth's atmosphere.
- Basic concepts in air pollution.
- Prevention and control strategies.
- Air emissions and inventories.
II.. Atmospheric chemistry and physics:
- Chemical transformations of atmospheric pollutants: Primary and secondary pollutants.
- Meteorology and air pollution.
- Weather models.
- Interpretation of weather maps.
III.. Atmospheric dispersion and air quality models:
- Atmospheric stability.
- Overelevation and expansion of plumes.
- Air quality models.
-Applications.
IV. Air pollution modelling laboratory:
- Estimation of atmospheric emissions.
- Dispersion and chemical transformation.
- Estimation of the height of the chimney.
The contents that are developed in 4.5 ECTS are those succinctly contemplated in the descriptor of the subject in the curriculum of the Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering, and are: "The atmospheric environment. Air pollutants. Prevention and control of air pollution. Emissions of atmospheric pollutants. Atmospheric chemistry. Meteorology and atmospheric pollution. Dispersion of atmospheric pollutants. Air pollution assessment: Applications.".
Consequently, the above descriptor is structured into the following thematic blocks.
Block I. Air pollution and emission sources
Topic 1. Introduction. Structure and composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Basic concepts in air pollution. Prevention and control of air pollution.
Topic 2. Emission sources and emissions inventories. Emitting foci. Estimation of atmospheric emissions. Atmospheric emissions inventories. Applications.
Block II. Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Topic 3. Pollutants and atmospheric chemistry. Classification of atmospheric pollutants. Gas phase chemistry. Aqueous phase chemistry. Aerosols. Problems caused by air pollution.
Topic 4. Meteorology and atmospheric pollution. Forces and winds. General circulation of the atmosphere. Pressure systems and thermal systems. Weather conditions and air pollution. Weather maps. Atmospheric models.
Block III. Atmospheric dispersion and air quality models
Topic 5. Atmospheric dispersion. Turbulence and atmospheric stability. Transport stopovers: Local stopover. Overelevation and dispersion of atmospheric plumes.
Topic 6. Air quality models. The atmospheric diffusion equation. Eulerian models. Lagrangian models. Gaussian models. Applications.
Block IV. Air pollution modelling laboratory
Topic 7. Estimation of atmospheric emissions. Industrial emissions.
Topic 8. Dispersion of atmospheric pollutants. Dispersion and chemical transformation at the local scale.
Basic bibliography
Jacobson, M.Z. "Atmospheric Pollution". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780511802287. SINATURA: 222 4.
European Environment Agency “EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook”. EEA Technical Report, 2019. ISSN 1977-8449.
Additional bibliography
Baumbach, G. “Air Quality Control”. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1996. ISBN 10: 3540579923.
Boubel, R.W., Fox, D.L., Turner, D.B., Stern, A.C. "Fundamentals of Air Pollution". London: Academic Press, 1994. ISBN 0-12-118930-0.
Catalá Icardo, M., Aragón Revuelta, P. “Contaminantes del aire: Problemas resueltos”. Valencia: Editorial Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 2008. ISBN 978-84-8363-224-6.
Finlayson-Pitts, B.J., Pitts Jr., J.N. “Atmospheric Chemistry”. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1986. ISBN 0-471-88227-5.
Jacobson, M.Z. “Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modelling”. Cambridge: University Press, 2005. ISBN 9780521548656. SINATURA: A220 4 A
Ministerio de Industria y Energía. "Manual de cálculo de chimeneas industriales". Madrid: Servicio de Publicaciones Miner, 1992. ISBN 978-84-7474-635-8.
Pielke, R.A. “Mesoscale meteorological modeling”. Academic Press, New York, 1984. ISBN 9780123852373.
Seinfeld, J.H. "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics of Air Pollution". New York: J. Wiley & Sons, 1985. ISBN 0-471-82857-2.
Seinfeld, J.H., Pandis, S.N. “Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics”. 2nd edition, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2006. ISBN 978-0471720171. SINATURA: 220 5.
Stull, R.B. "An introduction to boundary layer meteorology". The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1988. ISBN 978-94-009-3027-8.
US EPA. “Compilation of air pollutants emissions factors – Vol I: Stationary points and area sources”. AP-42, Research Triangle Park, California, 2016. https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-factors-and-quantification/ap-42-comp…
Vilà-Guerau de Arellano, J., van Heerwaarden, Ch.C., van Stratum, B.J.H., van den Dries, K. “Atmospheric Boundary Layer” New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015. ISBN 9781107090941. SINATURA: 220 7.
Zannetti, P. "Air Pollution Modeling". New York: Computational Mechanics Publications, Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990. ISBN 978-1-4757-4465-1. SINATURA: A222 7.
Other documentation
The teacher will provide presentations of the contents of the subject and other documents through their Virtual Classroom, in the language of teaching of the same.
In this subject, the student will acquire or practice a series of basic, general and transversal skills, desirable in any University Master's Degree, and specific, typical of Environmental Engineering. Within the table of competencies that was designed for the degree, students must achieve the following competencies:
General and basic competencies: CB6, CB7, CB8, CB9, CB10, CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4
Competencias transversales: CT1, CT2, CT4, CT7, CT8
Specific competences: CE1, CE2, CE5, CE8, CE9
Teaching and learning mechanisms
This subject will be developed through different teaching and learning mechanisms, as indicated in the following points:
MD1: Participatory master classes: Blocks I, II and III.
MD2: Seminars on problems and conference of professionals, depending on the means and conditions available: Blocks II and III.
MD4: Internships in Computer Classroom (A.I.): Block IV. Attendance at these internships, which will be evaluated based on the results obtained in them, is mandatory.
MD5: Technical visits to companies and institutions, depending on the means and conditions available.
MD7: Learning based on problem-solving, practical cases and projects (PBL): Development of teamwork (Blocks I and II).
MD8: Individualized and collective tutorials: Individualized tutorials for the clarification of the contents of the subject (Blocks I, II and III), and collective tutorials for the organization and monitoring of teamwork (Blocks I and II).
WY14: Oral presentations of previously prepared topics, including discussion with the
classmates and teachers: Presentation and defense of teamwork, with a debate (Blocks I and II).
MD15: Use of specialized software, databases and web resources: Block IV. Online teaching support: Virtual Campus.
MD2:
- Conference on "Applications of air quality models" given by the Director of the Climate Division in Spain of the Suez Group (a leading French multinational in the environmental sector). Depending on the internal and external means and conditions available.
MD5:
- Visit to Meteogalicia, the Galician meteorological service, to learn about the atmospheric models and meteorological instrumentation of this service. Depending on the internal and external means and conditions available.
Development of competences in teaching activities
Competence A=MD1 B=MD2 C=MD4 D=MD5 E=MD7 F=MD8 G=MD14 H=MD15
CB6 A C D E F G H
CB7 B C E F G H
CB8 A C D E F G
CB9 B D E F G
CB10 A B C D E F G H
CG1 A B E F G
CG2 A C D E F G H
CG3 B C D E F G H
CG4 A B C E F H
CT1 E F G H
CT2 E F G
CT4 A B C D E F G H
CT8 A B C D E F G H
CE1 A C E F G
CE2 A B C D H
CE5 B C H
CE8 B C D E F G H
CE9 A B C D E F G H
Grading System
The assessment of the subject will be composed of a combination of:
Rating System Evaluation Mode Weight in the global rating Minimum value out of 10
Final examination Individual 40 % 3,5
Laboratory Activities (A.I.) As a team 40 % -
Active participation in class and group tutorials Individual 10 % -
Active participation in activities with professionals Individual 10 % -
To pass the subject, the student must obtain a minimum grade of 3.5 out of 10 in the written exam. Otherwise, the student's overall grade will correspond to that of the written exam.
The grades of the classes, activities and group tutorials obtained in the course in which the student has taken the face-to-face teaching of the subject will be kept in all the evaluations of that course. It is always necessary that in each new opportunity the student takes the final exam, which will receive the corresponding grade.
Competency assessment
Competence A=Review B=A.I. C=Tutorials/Classes D=Activ. Professional
CB6 A B C D
CB7 B
CB8 C D
CB9 C
CB10 A B
CG1 D
CG2 B
CG3 A D
CG4 A B D
CT1 C
CT2 C
CT4 A B D
CT8 B C D
CE1 A B
CE2 A B D
CE5 B D
CE8 C
CE9 C D
TRAINING ACTIVITY Face-to-face hours Student Autonomous Work ECTS
Lectures 14 28
Seminars 10 24
Computer room 8 6.5
Group tutorials 4 2
Subtotal 36 60.5
Examination 2 14
Total 38 74.5
Total hours 112.5 - 4.5
The student must apply their fundamentals of mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering to the atmospheric environment and the relationships between it and atmospheric pollution that are studied in this subject. Mathematical models and databases will also be used to facilitate the practical application of the techniques studied.
Language in which it is taught: Spanish.
The subject will have a Virtual Classroom.
Jose Antonio Souto Gonzalez
Coordinador/a- Department
- Chemistry Engineering
- Area
- Chemical Engineering
- Phone
- 881816757
- ja.souto [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
| Thursday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom A7 |
| 11.07.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 | Classroom A7 |
| 11.07.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom A7 |
| 06.16.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom A7 |
| 06.16.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLIL_01 | Classroom A7 |