Course Title

Atmospheric and Climate Modelling (MAS)

Course Code

ES 416

Course Type

 Elective

Level

 Postgraduate

Year / Semester

 1st / 2nd

Instructor’s Name

 Theodoros Christoudias (Lead Instructor), Demetris Charalambous, Andrea Pozzer, Panos Hadjinicolaou

ECTS

5

Lectures / week

 1 (3h)

Laboratories / week

 None

Course Purpose and Objectives

 The numerical methods, formulation and parameterizations used in models of the circulation of the atmosphere will be described in detail. Widely used numerical methods will be the focus but we will also review emerging concepts and new methods. The numerics underlying a hierarchy of models will be discussed, ranging from simple box models to numerical weather prediction models and high-end GCMs with atmospheric chemistry.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to: apply atmospheric models currently used in research, meteorological and air quality institutes and consultancies; address how modelling can assist in understanding societal relevant environmental problems e.g. extreme weather, wind, energy or air quality; design numerical experiments related to specific research questions; explain and discuss the principles and theory of atmospheric models from local to regional scales; assess the potential applications of these models and their limitations; apply these models in real working situations to understand and interpret meteorological and air quality phenomena; evaluate model performance by comparison of model results with observations or other models; present model results and their analysis, related to concrete research questions. The students learn how to operate models and process model output through the practical assignments.

Prerequisites

 ES 403

Course Content

01: The Governing Equations & Numerical Solutions 02: Physical Process Parameterisations

03: Operational Numerical Weather Prediction

04: Ensemble Methods, Initialisation & Data Assimilation 05: Atmospheric Chemistry Modelling

06: Earth System Modelling

Teaching Methodology

 Lectures and practicals

Bibliography

“Numerical Weather and Climate Prediction”, Thomas Tomkins Warner, 2010, Cambridge University Press.

"Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modelling", Jacobson, 2005, Cambridge University Press.

“Parameterization Schemes: Keys to Understanding Numerical Weather Prediction Models”, David J. Stensrud, 2007, Cambridge University Press.

Assessment

 Coursework, test in class, project

Language

 English