NFYA04033U Simple Climate Models

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc Programme in Physics
MSc Programme in Agriculture
Content
The purpose of the course is to gain basic understanding of the various component of the climate system. The course gives a basic overview of the climate. We encourage all students in physics to join the course and gain a basic understanding of our climate system.

The energy balance and heat transport on the Planet Earth
Large scale ocean circulation
Glacial periods and ice sheet dynamics
Interactions between the major elements in the climate system:, the atmoshere, the ocean, the ice sheets and the biogeochemical system.

The first three weeks will contain introductory lectures and exercises of simple atmosphere, ocean and ice sheet models and their interactions. Emphasis is placed on models that are suited for the computer exercises that start after these weeks. After the first three weeks groups of 2-3 students will be formed and each group will choose a particular exam modelling project. The groups will work on their projects during the remaining exercise hours of the course. We recommend the computer language MATLAB for the modelling. During these last four weeks, supplementary lectures will be presented each week in collaboration with invited speakers.
Learning Outcome
Skills
  • understand the role of the atmosphere, ocean and ice sheet in the climate system
  • describe the climate evolution of the Earth (snowball Earth, greenhouse Earth, glacial cycle, global warming)
  • use simple models to describe the interaction between atmosphere, ocean and ice sheets
  • write a computer program
  • program the simple models using a computer language (like MATLAB)
  • present and discuss the computer model results in a report

Knowledge
During the course, simple models for the Earth's climate system will be presented. Emphasis will be placed upon physical and biogeochemical interactions and feedbacks between atmosphere, ocean, and ice sheet components of this system. Some subjects that will be covered will be energy balance and heat transport, large scale ocean circulation and carbon cycling, and glacial periods and ice sheet dynamics.

Competences
Through this course, the students will see how modeling can be used to obtain understanding about a topic such as climate. The student will be competent in using and extrapolation knowledge from these models. Modelling in general has application in a wide range of fields within physics.

Notes and articles.
Lectures and computer exercises
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 36
  • Practical exercises
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 140
  • Project work
  • 18
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
A written report based on the computerproject
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period
More internal examiners
Criteria for exam assesment
The highest grade, 12, is achieved, if all skills are demonstrated in the exam modelling report with none or only few errors.