BGC modeling

Lecturers: M. Schmid, D. Bouffard, M. Vogt

Lectures: Spring semester 2018, Friday, 10-12, IFW A 34

Course Type: Methodological Tools: Modelling course

Dates:

23.02.; 02.03.; 09.03.; 16.03.; 23.03.; 13.04.; 20.04.; 27.04.; 04.05.; 11.05.; 18.05.; 25.05.; 01.06.

Short description

In this course, the students acquire skills to implement and test basic numerical models for the simulation of biogeochemistry in aquatic systems using Matlab, to interpret and document model results, and to discuss model limitations. The focus of the course is on practical applications.

Course aim

The aim of this course is to encourage and enable students to develop, test and apply basic numerical models for a range of biogeochemical applications, and to interpret model results.

Course content     

Numerical models are useful tools for evaluating processes in complex systems, interpreting observational data, and projecting the response of a system beyond the range of observations. In this course, the students acquire skills to implement and test basic numerical models for the simulation of biogeochemical processes in aquatic systems using Matlab, to interpret and document model results, and to discuss model limitations.

The course includes the following topics:

• Formulation of transport and reaction equations describing aquatic systems
• Numerical recipes (discretization in time and space, finite differences, finite volumes, boundary conditions)
• Implementation of simple models in Matlab (box models, 1D-models, with applications from sediments, lakes, and oceans)
• Techniques for applied modelling & model testing (sensitivity analysis, parameter estimation)
• Interpretation and documentation of model results
• Model applications in current aquatic research (examples from scientific literature)

Modelling techniques will be practised during exercises. A serious effort to solve the exercises is required to pass the course. Furthermore, the students will develop and implement a model for a selected biogeochemical application in groups of two. The students will write a report, which includes a description of their model and its application, as well as a critical interpretation of the model results and a discussion of the limitations of the model. Towards the end of the course, the students will give short presentations of their project work.

Course material

All course material (lectures, exercises, and material for case studies) will be published on the courses’ ILIAS web repository

Literature recommendation

• E Holzbecher, 2012, Environmental Modeling Using MATLAB, 2nd edition, Springer.
• DM Glover, WJ Jenkins, SC Doney, 2011. Modeling Methods for Marine Science, Cambridge University Press.
• K Soetaert, PMJ Herman, 2009. A Practical Guide to Ecological Modelling, Springer.

Prerequisites

The following course or equivalent knowledge is required:
Mathematik III: Systemanalyse (701-0071-00L, autumn semester, German)

Basic programming knowledge in Matlab is required, e.g. the following course:
Anwendungsnahes Programmieren mit MATLAB (252-0840-01L, spring semester, German)

The following course is useful but not required:
Modelling Aquatic Ecosystems (701-0426-00L, spring semester, English)

Modelling Platform

The students are expected to work with their own Laptop where Matlab should be installed prior to the course (available for free from Stud-IDES). Template codes will be provided for lectures and exercises.