GEOGG124 Terrestrial Carbon: Modelling and Monitoring

OPTION GEOGG124 - TERRESTRIAL CARBON: MODELLING and MONITORING
(15 credits)

Term 2 (2014)

Staff:

Prof. Philip Lewis

Aims:

The Terrestrial Carbon: modelling and monitoring module aims:

To outline the role of vegetation in the carbon cycle and the wider climate system
To outline how the vegetation carbon cycle can be modelled and use the models in prediction
To provide the linkages between the models and remote sensing observations (radiative transfer)
To enable the students to use remote sensing (and other) data to constrain, test and criticise the models
To expose the students to modern statistical methods in combining data and models

Content:

The module will cover:

Assessment:

2 hour unseen exam, 100% of the assessment.

Format:

The module will be delivered through:

Lectures (3 hour sessions providing concepts, contexts, and critiques)
Computer laboratory work (extended practical sessions progressing technical aspects of model implementation and options hands-on experience of relevant software). Practicals will initially be based around specific vegetation models and EO radiative transfer schemes, but also include advanced concepts such as data assimilation.
Moodle resources (hosting reading lists, lecture handouts, datasets, guides and practical support materials)

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the module, students should:

Appreciate the role of vegetation in the carbon cycle and the climate system
Appreciate the role, strengths and weaknesses of models of global vegetation processes
Understand the factors affecting remote sensing measurements of vegetation (radiative transfer theory)
Understand how to use models and observations in combination to improve estimates of carbon fluxes and pools
Have an understanding of data assimilation