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Faculty for Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

Micrometeorology - Prof. Christoph Thomas

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Exercise course/Seminar: Models in Micrometeorology: Carbon and water budgets from ecosystem to landscape scale (GM3/PM4/FM4) (28420)

WS 2015/2016
Mo.: 08:15-09:45, S22 and S24a (PC-pool)

Mathias Göckede, Wolfgang Babel

M.Sc. Geoecology , modules GM3, PM4, FM4 (Environmental Physics)


Start: 12 Okt 2015


Course material will be distributed via elearning


Course outline

The course aims at providing a general background on modeling concepts that can be used to extrapolate micrometeorological observations in both time and space. The focus in this context will be placed on constraining terrestrial carbon budgets in the context of climate change, as well as energy exchange processes between surface and atmosphere. Spatially explicit estimates of carbon and energy budgets have become an important piece of information for decision makers on various levels. Examples range from international policy efforts to curb anthropogenic fossil fuel emissions such as the Kyoto protocol to decision support for local foresters concerning the net future effect of different management practices in a changing climate.

In the context of this course, we will analyze and discuss different approaches to simulate carbon and energy fluxes, their fundamental assumptions and simplifications in the model algorithms, data requirements, and model products including uncertainties. The overall objective is to provide understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each technique, and how these models can be used to provide information for decision makers and the general public.

The course will be organized into five major thematic blocks, each covering 2-4 weeks of the course program:

  1. Preparation of micrometeorological datasets for modeling
  2. Data-driven upscaling of flux datasets
  3. Top-down models: Atmospheric inversion
  4. Bottom-up modeling I: SVAT models (process-focused)
  5. Bottom-up modeling II: Regional to global scale simulations

Main access to all topics will be provided through lectures and seminars, with many parts based on the concept of reading and discussion of key manuscripts. These discussions will be accompanied by computer lab sessions to provide case studies on general model mechanisms and feedback to initial and boundary conditions.

As deliverables to fulfill the requirements general course concept (3 credit points), participating students will be asked to

  1. present one modeling ‘case study’ to discuss model concepts (seminar contribution, ~20-25mins)
  2. write a short report on hands-on exercises, i.e. take the lead in interpreting results from one of the computer lab exercises, summarize the overall findings

For interested students, we offer the option of extending the course syllabus to earn 5 credit points, instead of 3. This extension would consist in working out an extended report on individually assigned topics after completion of the main course program.


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