Undergraduate Course: Land-Atmosphere Interactions (ECSC10014)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Ecological Science |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | An honours level course in which we seek to address the following questions: (a) What are the important biophysical processes that determine land-atmosphere exchange and how might they influence the wider questions concerning 'Global Change'. (b) How has the present atmosphere evolved through geologic time and what has been the role of the biosphere in this process? (c) How do the atmospheric water, energy and trace gas cycles interact with the land surface? |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
16/09/2013 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10,
Fieldwork Hours 3,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Formative Assessment Hours 4,
Summative Assessment Hours 10,
Revision Session Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
49 )
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| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Land-Atmosphere Interactions | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will gain a critical appreciation of land-atmosphere interactions at a range of scales from cell to biome.
In this module we aim to discuss in detail the role of the biosphere in the climate system, how land-atmosphere exchange can be measured and what type of data and models are required to evaluate land-atmosphere interaction.
Students will discover how changes made to Earth's surface can have an effect on the atmosphere and vice versa.
Students will use a range of planetary-boundary layer models in practical sessions to simulate land-atmosphere exchange processes and will be expected to offer professional level insights into the results of these models.
Students will produce a research report which will involve analysing a complex problem: testing the sensitivity of a soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer model.
Students will identify the relevant outcomes of this and make judgements where data is limited or comes from a range of sources. |
Assessment Information
(a) a report on testing the sensitivity of a soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer model,
(b) a final degree examination question.
|
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Before starting the course, you should re-read the relevant chapters on energy balance and surface properties in
OKE, T.R. (1990). Boundary-layer Climates. Routledge, London.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | ECSC10014 LAI |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr John Moncrieff
Tel: (0131 6)50 5402
Email: j.moncrieff@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Meredith Corey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: meredith.corey@ed.ac.uk |
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