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What will I learn in this course?
This course presents the student with an overview of models used in the atmospheric sciences, with an emphasis on air quality models. This course uses the organizational tool of "application-algorithm-architecture" presented in OS411E: Computational Science to describe a variety of representative models, including "state-of-the-art" models such as AERMOD. The models presented in this course include:
  • energy balance models
  • radiative convective models
  • regional acid deposition models
  • Gaussian plume models
  • air quality models such as EKMA/OZIP and AERMOD
What are the learning objectives for this course?
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to do the following:
  1. Describe, in general terms, the technologies, techniques, and tools of atmospheric science modeling
  2. Describe in detail a variety of representative models, including those used in air quality modeling.

Who is the audience for this course?
This course is the "capstone" course in the OS411: Computational Atmospheric Science series, and is designed to acquaint the prospective air analyst with a broad yet detailed overview of important modeling tools in atmospheric science studies.

What should I already know before taking this course?
Since this course is the final course in the series, it is assumed that the student has a good working knowledge of all of the topics discussed in the previous five courses. The student should have a working knowledge of the composition and structure of the atmosphere, air pollution meteorology, chemistry to include tropospheric chemistry, and the use of computer modeling tools and their limiations. As such, prior to taking this course, we recommend that students complete and/or pass the final examination for the following APTI courses:
Do I need to do this module?

Answer these 20 questions to test your knowledege of this material. You should score at least an 80% before you consider trying to take the final exam for this course.

Tips on Taking the Course
  1. The course is divided up into five modules. Each module contains a number of units. You should carefully read the "Module Description" at the beginning of each module. On this page, we will describe the learning objectives, provide you with a list of topics to be learned, and describe some basic pre-requisite skills or knowledge needed for the module. In addition, there is a short "pre-test" that will help you to determine if you have enough mastery of the module to allow you to either skim that module or skip it altogether
  2. On each page of each unit, you will be presented with a textual reading, coupled with one or more still or animated graphics to help you understand a particular topic. On many pages you will find an interactive calculator or model that you can use to help you explore the topic in more depth. At the end of each page, there will be a one-question "quiz" to help you self-assess your mastery of the information on that page.
  3. Each unit will culminate with a short unit review and a five-question self-assessment quiz. Likewise, each module has a module review and a 20-question self-assessment review. A graded exam of 50 questions is provided in paper format at the end of the course. See the note below about "Obtaining Course Credit" for more information about the course exam.
  4. The course materials require at least Netscape 4 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4. A variety of plugins, such as Shockwave, will also be required. Information on downloading and installing these plugins will be provided on the setup page.
Registration
If you are a United States state, local, or tribal air pollution control official, register with the Air Pollution Training Institute (APTI).

All others who would like credit or acknowledgement for course completion should register with NC State University.

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Obtaining Course Credit:

To obtain course credit, you must complete the final examination with a minimum score of 70%. The final exam will be sent to your proctor via postal mail once you have completed the course materials. You must secure the services of a proctor who has been approved by the institution with whom you registered. The proctor will administer the exam and return it to the appropriate person (see below) for scoring. No "partial" credit or acknowledgement of partial completion of the course modules is provided.

If you registered through the Air Pollution Training Institute (APTI), your contact for sending you an exam and grading it is:

Deborah Miller
U.S. EPA
APTI
MD 17
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
(919) 541-5552
miller.deborahr@epa.gov
If you registered through NC State University, your contact for sending you an exam and grading it is:
Christine Murphy
NC State University
IES
Box 7902
Raleigh, NC 27696-7902
(919) 515-5875
chris_murphy@ncsu.edu
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