Environmental Physics

(Course Code: 228KEΥ, Course outline)

Semester: 6 Teaching Credits: 3 ECTS Credits: 5 Type:
Optional Compulsory
Prerequisite Courses:
Course type: Special background Instructor:  Christos Matsoukas
  • Identification of physical mechanisms involved in environmental issues
  • Assessment of the complexity of environmental physics problems
  • Analysis of physical processes in environmental problems, e.g. ozone depletion and climate change
  • Design of solutions for environmental degradation problems (e.g. siting of antennas, or noise sources)
Topics per Week:
  • Electrical and magnetic fields, electromagnetic wave
  • E/M field, radiometric quantities, solid angle
  • Photon, gas emission spectra, black body
  • Bohr atom, X rays, Rayleigh and Mie scattering
  • Light absorption, solar radiation, erythemal action of UV
  • Infrared, planetary radiation budget, greenhouse effect
  • Radiowaves, exposure and biological impacts
  • Radioactive radiation, half time, isotopes
  • Radioactive dose, radon, nuclear reactions
  • Radioactivity effects on health
  • Laser, population inversion, harmful effects
  • Sound, intensity levels, loudness
  • Sound measurements, exposure effects
Theory – Lectures
(hours / week):		 3
Exercises – Laboratories
(hours / week):		 –
Other Activities:  –
Grading:

Final exam (70%) and 6 homework problem sets (30%)
Notes:

“Environmental Physics”, C.P. Halvadakis, C. Matsoukas, 94 pages
Basic Textbook:
  • J. L. Hunt, W. G Graham, “Radiation in the environment (2nd edition)”, free web book
  • “Physics of the environment”, P. Kassomenos, Kleidarithmos editions, in Greek
Bibliography:
  •  E. T. Chanlett, (1979), “Environmental Protection”, Second Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.
  • M. Eisenbud, (1973), “Environmental Radioactivity”, Second Edition, Academic Press, New York.
  • N. Mason, P. Hughes, (2001), “Introduction to environmental physics : planet earth, life and climate”, Taylor & Francis, London, New York
  • G. M. Μasters, (1991), “Introduction to Environmental Engineering and Science”, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
  • J. L. Monteith, & M.H. Unsworth, (1990), “Principles of Environmental Physics”, Second Edition, Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Inc., New York.
  • K. F. Papastefanou, (1992), “Radiation physics and isotope applications”, 2nd ed.,Zitis Editions, Thessaloniki
  • C. Proukakis, (1987), “Nuclear Accidents: Hazards and Health Protection”, Scientific Publications G. K. Parisianos, Athens
  • I. N. Sahalos, (1990), “Microwaves”, Aivazis-Zouboulis Editions, Thessaloniki
  • R. A. Serway, (1992), “Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics”, Third Edition, Updated Version, Saunders Golden Sunburst Series, Saunders College Publishing, Haarcourt Brace College Publishers, San Francisco.
  • C. Smith, (2001), “Environmental physics”, Routledge, London
Greek
Internet Links:

http://moodle.aegean.gr/