Unit 1: Structure and variability of Earth's ionosphere

Introduction to neutral upper atmosphere and its interaction with solar radiation: Thermal structure of the atmosphere, Heat balance and temperature profile of thermosphere, Dissociation and diffusive separation and thermospheric composition, Exosphere, Solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere, Attenuation of solar radiation in the atmosphere, thermal effect of radiation, photochemical effects of radiation, Airglow

Overview of Polar Geography and Climate; History of Indian Antarctic programme; Physical characteristics; weather and climate, ice coring in Antarctica for Paleo-environment studies, logistics of Antarctic Science, opportunities, Antarctic governance and protection of Antarctic environment, International linkages.

Introduction: definitions and background, variables, wind and flow, turbulent transports; Taylor’s hypothesis and observing techniques, boundary layer depth and structure Mathematical and conceptual tools: Turbulence and its spectrum; spectral gap; mean and turbulent parts; basic statistical methods; rules of averaging; turbulent kinetic energy; kinematic flux, eddy flux; stresses. Governing equations for turbulent flow: methodology, basic equations, simplifications and approximations, equations for mean variables in a turbulent flow.

History of satellite and radar meteorology; Orbits and navigation, Orbit perturbations, Meteorological satellite orbits, Satellite positioning, tracking, and navigation, Space-time sampling, Launch vehicles and profiles; Elements of radiative transfer - Basic quantities, Blackbody radiation, Radiative transfer equation, Gaseous absorption, Scattering, Solar radiation and surface reflection; Meteorological satellite instrumentation - Operational polar orbiting satellites, Operational geostationary satellites, Other satellite instruments, Satellite data archives; Radar - Radar basics, Convent

The significance of Air-Sea Interaction; Atmospheric and Oceanic Interaction at various scales; Concept of Boundary Layer; Atmospheric Heat Budget; Variations of wind, temperature and moisture over the sea surface. Air sea temperature differences; Wind stress and resultant drag coefficient with variation to wind speed; Upper ocean boundary layer. Oceanic heat budget.

Tropospheric Aerosols: Aerosols, Historical understanding of tropospheric aerosols, Contemporary understanding of tropospheric aerosols; Particle Sources and Strengths - widespread surface sources (Biogenic sources, Volcanoes, Ocean and fresh water, Crustal and Cryospheric Aerosols, Biomass burning); Spatial Sources - Gas to particle conversion (Sulfur & Nitrogern - Containing compounds, Organic and Carbonaceous Particles), Cloud as a Source of Aerosols, External Sources; Particle Size Distribution and Chemical Compositions (Polar aerosols, Background aerosols, Maritime aerosols, Remote

Remote Sensing techniques applicable to planetary geology; applications derived from interaction of electromagnetic radiation (X-ray, gamma-ray, visible, near-IR, mid-IR, radar) with geologic materials. Remote sensing applications formineralogy, petrology and geochemical analyses for terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments.

SolarSystem: major concepts, planets, satellites, asteroids, meteorites and comets; formation and internal differentiation of the planets; general features of Terrestrial and Jovian planets.

Introduction: Numerical Weather Prediction as an Initial Value Problem, Filtering Problem, Finite Difference techniques for various partial differential equations (parabolic, hyperbolic and elliptic), Time integration schemes, Explicit, Implicit, and semi-implicit Schemes.

Introduction to Planets and Planetary Systems- Orbital motion – Gravitational field that shape the Earth – Internal structure of planet and its satellite, Equation of state, Density profiles, MassRadius relationship, The origin and evolution solar system, planetary atmospheres, Elemental abundance, outgassing processes, capture processes, Erosion and escape processes, surface processes – condensation, Adsorption, dissolution, chemical weathering, Atmospheric feedbacks – Observed atmospheric changes in Earth and other planets.