Environmental modelling

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Louis François, Guy Munhoven

Coordinator

Guy Munhoven

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course provides a general introduction to computer modelling of environmental physical, chemical and biological processes.
The theoretical lectures cover the following themes 1. Biogeochemical cycles; 2. Box models; 3. Modelling of oceanic processe: carbon cycle, marine sediments, etc. 4. Modelling of continental processes: hydrology, photosynthesis and vegetation, soil and water-rock interactions; 5. Climate modelling: energy balance models, Earth system models of intermediate Complexity (EMICs), general circulation models (GCMs)
The tutorials will help students to master the concepts and techniques of modelling.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The aim of this course is to allow students to master the modelling of physical chemical and biological processes in the environment. It is in particularly devoted to the modelling of climate and biogeochemical cycles, on the basis of e few simple examples.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge of numerical analysis and programming.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Each student will carry out a modelling project that requires the development or the use of a (simple) computer model. This work will be related to one aspect or another of subjects addressed in the lectures.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

The lectures are organised during the second semester, on Wednesday morning from 10h00 to 13h00.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

In the event of an orange or red code in education, the theoretical courses will be organized remotely, in principle by Lifesize video-conference, or on an alternative platform, if necessary or useful; the supervision of the students for their personal project will be organized by video-conference (either in groups, as for the theoretical courses, or by individual interviews) and by e-mail. As long as orange or red protocols are effective, exams will also be held by Lifesize video-conference, or on an alternative platform, if necessary or useful.

Recommended or required readings

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

oral exam AND written work

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

Oral examination (on the lectures) + personal work (synthetic report of modelling project - tutorials).

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@uliege.be

Guy Munhoven, Research Associate F.R.S-FNRS, Laboratory of Planetary and Atmospheric Physics, Institute of Astrophysics et and Geophysics (B5c build.), Phone: (+32) (4) 366-9771 e-mail: Guy.Munhoven@uliege.be Web: http://www.astro.ulg.ac.be/~munhoven

Items online