Course Title

Fundamentals, Frontiers, and Methodologies in Environmental Sciences, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Built Environment

Course Code

EAS 500

Course Type

Mandatory

Level

PhD

Instructor’s Name

Prof. Jean Sciare (Lead Instructor), Assoc. Prof. George Biskos, Assoc. Prof. Panos Hadjinicolaou, Asst. Prof. Theodoros Christoudias, Prof. Salvatore Carlucci, Assoc. Prof. Adriana Bruggeman, Prof. Manuel Blanco, Assoc. Prof. Theodoros Zachariades, Asst. Prof. Victor Gregoriev, Adjunct Prof. Silas Michaelides, Asst. Prof. Georgios Artopoulos 

ECTS

10

Lectures / week

1 (3 hour)

Laboratories / week

 -

Course Purpose and Objectives

Purpose: The course will provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific frontiers and advanced methodologies at the vanguard of Climate and Atmospheric Sciences, Solar Energy, Hydrology, and Sustainable Built Environment. Particular reference will be given to the regional (Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East) background in the context of global climate changes, addressing impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies. Advanced methodologies will be illustrated by the research and innovation thrusts currently pursued within The Cyprus Institute CARE-C (Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre) and EEWRC (Energy, Environment and Water Research Centre). They will cover

(i) Numerical modelling, simulations and predictions
(ii)Atmospheric measurement techniques
(iii) Experimental and modelling tools in Hydrology
(iv) Modelling of Energy Systems in general and of Renewable Energy System (RES) in particular
(v) Advanced concepts of sustainability and sustainable built environment development (thermal comfort and energy performance using experimental tools and computer models)

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide a general overview of the different scientific topics that will be developed in more details in the different courses of the EAS program.  The multi-disciplinary dimension of the course will enrich the scientific background of the students while offering them a better understanding of research and innovation thrusts of key vertical and horizontal priorities of the Cyprus Smart Specialization Strategy (i.e. Environment, Energy, Built Environment). The course will also introduce the students to the concept of several United Nation (UN) Sustainable Development Goals relevant for the region such as climate action, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities.

Prerequisites

None

Background Requirements

None

Course Content

2. Fundamentals of Dynamic and Synoptic Meteorology
2.1. Fundamental and apparent forces
2.2. The Governing Equations
2.3. Scales of atmospheric motions
2.4. Mid-latitude synoptic systems
2.5. Tropical and sub-tropical synoptic systems

4. Fundamentals of Climate
4.1. Introduction to the climate system
4.2. Physical climatology
4.3. Dynamic and synoptic climatology
4.4. Essential climate statistics
4.5. Urban climatology

6. Methodologies in Atmospheric Measurements Techniques
6.1. Concept of atmospheric monitoring
6.2. Weather parameters
6.3. Aerosols and Clouds
6.4. Reactive and Greenhouse gases
6.5. New technologies for probing atmospheric composition (sensors and UAVs)

7. Scientific Frontiers in Climate Change: Concept and Perspectives
7.1. Historical overview of climate change sciences and the IPCC work
7.2. Observed changes in the climate system
7.3. Understanding and attributing climate change
7.4. Global and regional climate change projections
7.5. The CyI work on EMME/MENA climate change

8. Fundamentals and Scientific Frontiers Hydrology
8.1. The global hydrologic cycle
8.2. Surface water and groundwater
8.3. Green water
8.4. Non-conventional water resources
8.5. Water management technologies

10. Fundamentals and Scientific Frontier in Energy and Renewable Energy Systems
10.1. The concept and different dimensions of Energy
10.2. The current World Energy System. Climate Change and the Energy Transition
10.3. Renewable Energies, status and perspectives.
10.4. Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) systems, value proposition, status, and perspectives.

11. Methodologies in Energy and Renewable Energy Systems
11.1. The Laws of Thermodynamics
11.2. Energy and Exergy
11.3. Approaches on the modelling of energy systems.
11.4. Modelling of Renewable Energy Systems. Methodologies and Tools.

12. Fundamentals and Scientific Frontiers in the Sustainable Built Environment
12.1. Introduction on the Sustainable Built Environment
12.2. Characteristics of the Built Environment
12.3. Problems affecting the Built Environment
12.4. Sustainable Built Environment development
12.5. A new urban agenda

Teaching Methodology

Lectures, seminars

Bibliography

1. McIlveen R., Fundamentals of Weather and Climate, 2010, Oxford University

2. Seinfeld J., and Pandis, S., 1998, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change

3. Hartmann D.L., Global Physical Climatology, 2nd Edition, 2016, Elsevier, 498pp.

4. Numerical Weather and Climate Prediction, Thomas Tomkins Warner, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-51389-0

5. Ward, A., Trimble, S.W., Burckhard, S.R., Lyon, J.G., Environmental Hydrology, 3rd Edition, 2015, CRC Press

6. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, Eighth Edition. Juan Martin, Margaret Bailley, Michael Moran, Howard Shapiro.

7. Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems, Third Edition. Charles F. Kutscher, Jana B. Milford, Frank Kreith. ISBN 9781498788922. Published September 18, 2018 by CRC Press.

8. Santamouris M. Minimizing Energy Consumption, Energy Poverty and Global and Local Climate Change in the Built Environment: Innovating to Zero–Causalities and Impacts in a Zero Concept World. Elsevier, 2019.

9. Hensen, J.L.M., and R. Lamberts (2011). Building performance simulation for design and operation. Spon Press, Oxon, UK

Assessment

Coursework, essays, presentations

Language

English