Climate models : principles and applications

Duration

45h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Louis François

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The main theoretical chapters are as follows :
1. The climate system and its components 2. History and challenges of climate modelling 3. Energy balance models 4. Earth Models of Intermediate Complexity 5. Coupled three-dimensional models of the climate system - atmospheric general circulation models - oceanic general circulation models - ice models - dynamic vegetation models - carbon cycle models 6. Selected applications of climate models

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The objectives are :
(1) to provide the students with an overview of climate modelling
(2) tho illustrate some applications modelling to the study of (past and future) climate change
(3) to introduce the student to the use of climate models

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Knowledge of meteorology and of the fundamentals equations of the atmosphere. This knowledge can be acquired within the course "SPAT0024-2 Meteorology".

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The tutorials will allow the student to get acquainted with the simple climatic models. One-dimensional energy balance and radiative-convective models will be used in continuity with the chapters of the theoretical lessons. Simple experiments based on the intermediate complexity model "Planet Simulator" (spectral climatic model) will be led and analyzed.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

The course is organised in 3-hour lectures, during the second semester. Computers are used in the tutorials (5 working sessions of 4-hour each).
Academic year 2017-2018: lectures on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning. First lecture on Tuesday February 6th from 13h00 to 16h00. Room TP/02, Building B11. Second lecture on Thursday February 8th from 13h00 to 12h00. Room TP 0/2, Building B11

Recommended or required readings

The theoretical part of this lesson is widely based on the book "The climate modelling primer" of K. McGuffie and A. Henderson-Sellers (John Wiley & Sons, 2014). The fourth edition of this work was strongly reshaped according to the recent results of this rapidly growing field. The text offers the advantage of a clear summary presentation, and nevertheless complete, of climate modelling, avoiding the too complex mathematical developments. This book is particularly well designed for an education in the sections of geography. Its price is relatively affordable. Other bibliographical references will be used according to needs.
The pdf files of the lectures are available to the students.

Assessment methods and criteria

Theoretical chapters: oral examination.

Tutorials: examination including exercises on computer (applications of models used in the class and interpretation of the results)

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

Louis François, Professor, Institute of Astrophysics et and Geophysics (B5c build.), Phone: (+32) (4) 366-9776 e-mail: Louis.Francois@ulg.ac.be

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