Duration
Part : Atmosphere : 10h Th, 20h Pr
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle : 15h Th, 25h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in geography, global change (120 ECTS) | 7 crédits |
Lecturer
Part : Atmosphere : Xavier Fettweis
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle : Louis François
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The lectures begin with a quick introduction to the modelling of the continental surface processes in climate models. It includes the modelling of the exchanges of heat, water and CO2 between the soil, the vegetation and the atmosphere, as well as the processes governing the dynamic evolution of the vegetal cover (leaf area index, vegetation types, etc.).
Then, the tutorials introduce the students to the use of the CARAIB dynamic vegetation model. Applications are developed for specific regions selected by the students (e.g., some European countries), by using as inputs the datasets obtained as outputs of the climate simulations performed in the first series of lectures (partim 1).
Part : Atmosphere
The lecture begins with a quick introduction to regional climate modelling where problems connected to the choice of the integration domain, the pre-/post-possessing, the double nesting, the 2-way coupling, ... are presented. Afterwards, the tutorials introduce the students to the use of the atmospheric regional climate model MAR (for Modèle Atmosphérique Régional in French) developped at the Laboratory of Climatology from ULiège. Its outputs will be used in Partim 2 to force a vegetation on a particular region of the world. The simulation will be performed on Linux powered supercomputers (CECI).
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
The lectures begin with a quick introduction to the modelling of the continental surface processes in climate models. It includes the modelling of the exchanges of heat, water and CO2 between the soil, the vegetation and the atmosphere, as well as the processes governing the dynamic evolution of the vegetal cover (leaf area index, vegetation types, etc.).
Then, the tutorials introduce the students to the use of the CARAIB dynamic vegetation model. Applications are developed for specific regions selected by the students (e.g., some European countries), by using as inputs the datasets obtained as outputs of the climate simulations performed in the first series of lectures (partim 1).
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The objective of the lectures is to introduce the students to the use of vegetation models.
Part : Atmosphere
The objective of the lectures is to introduce the students to the use of complex climate models.
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
The objective of the lectures is to introduce the students to the use of vegetation models.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
- SPAT0024 Meteorology - CLIM0002 Climate modelling (partim 1 and partim 2) - CLIM0014-1 Programmation au service de la climatologie (partim 1) - CLIM0017-5 Programmation au service de la climatologie (partim 2)
Part : Atmosphere
- CLIM0002 Climate modelling - CLIM0660 Introduction to modelling in physical geography - Partim 2 - CLIM0024 Introduction to modelling in physical geography - Partim 3
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
- SPAT0024 Meteorology - CLIM0002 Climate modelling (partim 1 and partim 2) - CLIM0014-1 Programmation au service de la climatologie (partim 1) - CLIM0017-5 Programmation au service de la climatologie (partim 2)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The tutorials will be dedicated to the use of a dynamic vegetation model.
Part : Atmosphere
The tutorials will be dedicated to the use and handling of the MAR regional model on Linux powered supercomputers. The MAR outputs are then used to force the CARAIB vegetation model.
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
The tutorials will be dedicated to the use of a dynamic vegetation model.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
The lectures are organized in 3-hour modules during the first semester. Computers under Linux are used for the tutorials.
Schedule 2021-2022: 1st semester, Thursday morning or afternoon, starting at the end of October.
Part : Atmosphere
The lectures are organized in 3-hour modules during the first semester. Computers under Linux are used for the tutorials.
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
The lectures are organized during the first semester. Personal computers are used for the tutorials.
Academic year 2022-2023: lectures on Thursday starting from mid-October. Please contact Louis.Francois@uliege.be for the organisation and the schedule.
Recommended or required readings
The pdf files of the lecture slides are available for the students.
Reference articles of the CARAIB model are presented to the students during the lectures.
Part : Atmosphere
The pdf files of the lecture slides are available for the students on myuliège
Reference articles of the MAR are presented to the students during the first lesson.
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
The pdf files of the lecture slides are available for the students.
Reference articles of the CARAIB model are presented to the students during the lectures.
Assessment methods and criteria
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Additional information:
Each student has to model a particular domain of Europe or of another continent and is evaluated on the basis of the (oral) presentation of the results he obtained in the tutorials.
Part : Atmosphere
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
- Remote
oral exam
Additional information:
Every student has to model a particular domain of the world with MAR and is evaluated on the basis of the (oral) presentation of the results he/she obtained with MAR.
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
Each student has to model a particular domain of Europe or of another continent and is evaluated on the basis of the (oral) presentation of the results he obtained in the tutorials.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
Louis François, Professor, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique (Bât. B5c), Tél.: (+32) (4) 366-9776 e-mail: Louis.Francois@uliege.be
Part : Atmosphere
Dr. Xavier Fettweis
Department of Geography - Laboratory of Climatology
Web: http://www.climato.be/fettweis
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
Louis François, Professor, Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique (Bât. B5c), Tél.: (+32) (4) 366-9776 e-mail: Louis.Francois@uliege.be
Association of one or more MOOCs
The MOOC entitled 'Tout comprendre sur le climat et son réchauffement (S3)' is associated with this course.
Items online
Part : Atmosphere
Items online
The slides as well as the examples shown during the lectures are available on
Part 2: Vegetation and carbon cycle
Online notes
On-line notes available on UMCCB website