Specialisation Atmospheric Physics for M.Sc. Physics
The Meteorological Institute is part of the Faculty of Physics and offers a specialisation subject "Atmospheric Physics" as part of the optional course programme of the Master of Physics. In order to obtain a specialisation certificate "Atmospheric Physics", in addition to your Master of Physics degree, 20 hours per week/ 30 ECTS have to be chosen from the dedicated optional course programme and a Master thesis in the subject area has to be completed.
In order to provide some orientation within the limited hours of the Specialisation Atmospheric Physics, two general fields of research are defined. 1. Numerical weather forecast and data assimilation ("W+D") and 2. Atmosphere and Climate ("A+K"). In order to be able to provide orientation on these two, especially if you have no prior knowledge of the field, we recommend the participation in "Introduction into Atmospheric Physics for Physicists". This is a one week block course ahead of the start of the teaching term in winter semester.
With the final certificate on the Specialisation Atmospheric Physics focus on one of the two fields is recommended. At least, one 9 ECTS and one 6 ECTS lecture - preferably from the same field - have to be chosen in winter and summer semester. Remaining contributions can come the complete range of optional lectures of the Meteorology (all 3, 6 or 9 ECTS courses).
Course of studies:
Option ahead of WiSe (3 ECTS). Can be replaced by any other section C course:
- Introduction to Atmospheric Physics for Physicists (block course, 2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
A: Winter semester - at least one 9 ECTS:
- W+D: Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics (6 SWS/ 9 ECTS)
- A+K: Advanced Atmopsheric Physics (6 SWS/ 9 ECTS)
B: Summer semester - at least one 6 ECTS lecture, preferably from the field chosen in winter semester:
- W+D: Data assimilation (offered not each year, 4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
- W+D: Numerical Weather Prediction incl. tutorials (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
- W+D: Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics 2 (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
- A+K: Cloud Physics incl. tutorials (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
- A+K: Advanced Advanced Atmospheric Observation and Data Processing Techniques (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
C: Summer or winter semester 12 (or 15) ECTS.
Free choice from all 3, 6 ECTS or 9 ECTS courses (also from A or B) of the Meteorology at Master level. E.g.:
- Climate dynamics, climate modeling, climate change (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
- Advanced Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing Techniques (4 SWS/ 6 ECTS)
- Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer (block course, 3 ECTS)
- Active remote sensing (Radar/Lidar) (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Aviation and Climate (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Natural Disasters - Biometeorology (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Climate change processes in the stratosphere (2 SWS, 3 ECTS)
- The Middle Atmosphere in the Climate System (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Boundary Layer Meteorology (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Physical parameterizations in atmospheric models (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Atmospheric Aerosol (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Change (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
- Meteorological Satellites (2 SWS/ 3 ECTS)
(Offers in B and C are subject to change. Status 2024. In case of doubt ask the Student Counselling Meteorology).