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: 2014/15 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
Class Delivery Information |
1 three-hour lecture per week |
Course Start Date |
15/09/2014 |
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 |
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Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Exam Information |
Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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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
Exam in December diet, will cover theory and practical aspects of the course. One assessed practical exercise, will comprise the coursework for this course. Please note that there are no assessed attendance requirements on this course.
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Special Arrangements
None |
Additional Information
Academic description |
Not entered |
Syllabus |
Example syllabus from 2013/14
Importance of the land surface in global change: Introduction to SVAT models
The Global Carbon Balance; SVAT modelling with SimSphere
Visit to Research Aircraft; Introduction to Intermittent Assessment
Trace gas exchange between soils and the atmosphere. I - Theory
Trace gas exchange between soils and the atmosphere. II - Measurements
SVAT models ¿ applications
Case Study: Arctic Processes
Case Study: Arctic Responses
Remote sensing of Land-Atmosphere Exchange Processes.
Large scale experiments in land-atmosphere exchange. |
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. |
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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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 29 August 2014 3:49 am
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