Module manager: Professor Alison Tomlin
Email: A.S.Tomlin@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module will equip students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to understand the atmospheric physical and chemical processes that contribute to the transportation, secondary generation, and deposition of pollutants at local, regional and global scales.
On completion of this module, students will be able to:
- understand the physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere that contribute to the vertical and horizontal transportation, secondary generation and deposition of pollutants.
- investigate the reasons for high pollutant concentrations and their dependence on emissions, chemical transformations, meteorological conditions and the urban form; - understand the principles of Gaussian dispersion modelling,
- use appropriate methods of modelling local-scale atmospheric dispersion.
- understand the main human health and broader environmental impacts resulting from atmospheric emissions of pollutants from transport, energy related and industrial sources.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of boundary layer meteorological processes and how these influence the dispersion of pollutants from both ground level and elevated sources.
2. Students should be able to use appropriate methods of modelling (mathematic and computational) atmospheric dispersion and to work as a team to carry out environmental impact studies related to air quality.
3. They should be able to design an air quality screening approach which takes account of predominant weather patterns and sensitive receptors for a given case study and present the case in a professional way.
4. They should be able to comment on the impacts of the resulting ground level pollutant concentrations and deposition processes on human health both in the workplace and the wider locality for the given industrial installation. Students will develop a working knowledge of a widely used commercial package for atmospheric dispersion (ADMS).
5. Students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the processes by which emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols impact on radiative forcing in the atmosphere, and thus potential changes to past and future climates due to anthropogenic emissions.
6. They should be able to demonstrate knowledge of future scenario projections for climate change based on best available knowledge from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills :
A) Communication, Academic writing, Presentation skills
B) Teamwork/Collaboration
C) Time management, planning & organising
D) Technical/IT skills
E) Problem solving & analytical skills
F) Critical thinking
G) Interpersonal skills
H) Information, data and media literacies
- Atmospheric Dispersion
- Pollution Transport Modelling
- Pollution Dispersion Modelling Case Studies
- Formation of Secondary Pollutants
- Acid deposition
- Climate science basics
- Radiative forcing and uncertainties
- Climate feedback mechanisms
- Future greenhouse gas emissions scenarios and trends
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Practical | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Independent online learning hours | 30 | ||
| Private study hours | 90 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 30 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Students will submit an outline (1 page A4) strategy for their air quality assessment for review in advance of the final deadline.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Group Report | 25 |
| Presentation | Live debate | 20 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 45 | |
For group reports and presentations any students requiring a resit may have to submit an individual piece of work which would be designed to cover the same learning outcomes.
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2.0 Hrs Mins | 55 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 55 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 24/01/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team