PHYS330-22S2 (C) Semester Two 2022

Environmental and climate modelling

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 18 July 2022
End Date: Sunday, 13 November 2022
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 31 July 2022
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 2 October 2022

Description

This is a hands-on course in which students will learn the fundamentals of modelling the Earth’s climate system. Using the Python programming language, students will develop parameterisations for simple climate models, and learn how to run more advanced models. Students will learn how models are used to support decision making through geoinformatics and science in the areas of: climate change; air pollution; the ozone layer; numerical weather prediction, and its application in renewable energy and agricultural meteorology. Particular focus will be given to how these issues affect Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain why a range of models are necessary to solve different problems, demonstrating knowledge relating to multiple scenarios based on current literature. Show how models and derived geospatial information are used to support decision making and science.
  • Identify what constitutes a functional model, and apply advanced programming skills to develop and run a range of climate models and analyse the output.
  • Synthesise mathematical and programming skills to develop a parameterisation for simple climate models.
  • Evaluate whether model output is reasonable when compared with observations and other models using advanced data analysis techniques. Explain how derived model output can be effectively communicated to affected communities.

Prerequisites

(COSC121 or EMTH171 or BIOL209) AND (PHYS285 or ENVR201 or GEOG201)

Restrictions

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Laura Revell

Lecturer

Marwan Katurji

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignment 1 17% Global climate modelling
Assignment 2 17% Simple climate models and energy balance models
Assignment 3 17% Small-scale meteorological modelling and Numerical Weather Prediction
Assignment 4 49% Climate change and its implications for New Zealand

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

David J Stensrud; Parameterization Schemes: Keys to Understanding Numerical Weather Prediction Models ; Cambridge University Press, 2007 (View online at https://www.amazon.com/Parameterization-Schemes-Understanding-Numerical-Prediction-dp-0521126762/dp/0521126762/ref=mt_other?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=).

Jacobson, Mark Z; Fundamentals of atmospheric modeling ; Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Roger A Pielker Sr; Mesoscale Meteorological Modelling ; Volume 98, 3rd Edition; 2013 (https://www.elsevier.com/books/mesoscale-meteorological-modeling/pielke-sr/978-0-12-385237-3).

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $926.00

International fee $4,563.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Physical & Chemical Sciences .

All PHYS330 Occurrences

  • PHYS330-22S2 (C) Semester Two 2022
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