| CODE | GSC3301 | ||||||
| TITLE | Instrumentation for Environmental Measurements | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Geosciences | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will introduce the students to the actual instrumentation used in environmental and oceanographic measurements, and provide them with hands-on experience of such instrumentation. It will cover the theoretical basis of how the instruments operate as well as the practical use of such instruments, with site visits where possible. Atmosphere: Review of principles of spectroscopy Collection techniques for atmospheric gases and particles Spectroscopic techniques for atmospheric gases and particles Instrumentation requirements Absorbance, UV and IR absorption Emission and fluorescence; Chemiluminescence Gas chromatography and GC-Mass spectroscopy Liquid chromatography Neutron activation analysis X Ray diffraction; X ray fluorescence analyzers Aethelometer Multi angle absorption photometer Laser Light scattering techniques SMPS Ocean In-Situ Observation: Description of: Secchi Disk, Temperature Loggers, CTDs, Water Samplers, ADCP Drifters, Floats, Gliders, Buoys, ROV GPS / DGPS / Galileo position and navigation Calibration and Validation Communication systems for real-time data transmission and Delayed Mode observations GPRS, UHF Argos and Iridium satellite constellations Short Burst Data (SBD) file systems Databases; Storing and searching big data Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to familiarise students with instrumentation and methods of analysis used in atmospheric and oceanographic sciences. It aims to provide the students with a proper understanding of the physical and chemical principles of measurement used, besides introducing them to the actual instruments through the use of site visits and field work. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - recall the principles on which these instruments are based; - describe the method of operation of these instruments; - describe the kind of data that is produced by each instrument; - discuss the sensitivity of the various instruments; - appreciate the requirements of particular investigations and which instruments/tools are to be used; - use these instruments in the laboratory and field. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - handle and use these instruments in the laboratory and field; - carry out actual measurements, and extract the relevant data; - evaluate data sets from these instruments and interpret same. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Kulkarni, Pramod and Baron, Paul A. and Willeke, Klaus. (2011). Aerosol Measurement. Wiley. - LeMenn, Marc (2012). Instrumentation and Metrology in Oceanography. Wiley. - Vijayalakshmi, S. R. and Muruganand, S. (2017). Ocean Instrumentation, Electronics, and Energy. Mercury Learning & Information. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Raymond M. Ellul Adam Gauci |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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