Biogeochemical Cycles in the Earth System - an Overview
Goal of the module is an overview over the global Earth System, its major components (Atmosphere, ocean, land surfaces and cryosphere), their interactions through exchanges of energy, momentum and materials, and the major physical, chemical and biological processes controlling these exchanges. A special emphasis is given to the role of the global cycles of biogeochemical elements and their modifications in the context of global change.
Overview
| Course | Course leaders | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview: Global Biogeochemical Cycles | Sue Trumbore, Martin Heimann | February 20-24, 2012 | MPI for Biogeochemistry, Jena Room B0.002 on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri Lecture hall on Wed |
Prerequisites
Please indicate in the registration form if you can bring a laptop to the course (for the practical part). It does not need to have special software, a browser will do. If you do not have a laptop, we can lend you one.
Outline
| Slot | Time |
|---|---|
| a.m. (I) | 09:30-10:30 |
| a.m. (II) | 11:00-12:00 |
| p.m. (I) | ca. 14:00-15:30 (will be defined in the morning) |
| Day | Slot | Type | Content | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Martin Heimann | |||
| a.m. (I + II) | L | Introduction - Overview of Earth System - Components and processes in the Earth System (Atmosphere, Ocean, Land surfaces, Hydrological cycle, Cryosphere) - Fundamental scientific questions - Energy balance | MH | |
| p.m. (I) | L + D | Exercises with simple energy balance model - Feedback calculus - Bifurcations and chaos | MH | |
| Tue | Susan Trumbore | |||
| a.m. (I+II) | L+D | History of climate and the atmospheric composition (geologic, ice ages, Holocene, historical, contemporary trends) | ST | |
| p.m. (I) | L | Seminar by Michael Prather (mandatory for students!) | ST | |
| Wed | Martin Heimann/Susan Trumbore | |||
| a.m. (I) | L | Biogeochemical cycles I: Cycles of carbon and oxygen | MH | |
| a.m. (II) | L + D | Simple carbon cycle model | MH | |
| p.m. (I) | L + D | Biogeochemical cycles II: Simple coupled carbon cycle - climate model | ST/MH | |
| Thu | Susan Trumbore | |||
| a.m. (I+II) | L | Biogeochemical cycles III (N, S, P) | ST | |
| p.m. (I) | L+D | Coupled BGC-climate models | ST | |
| Fri | Martin Heimann | |||
| a.m. (I) | L | Global change I (Drivers, model simulations and selected impacts) | MH | |
| a.m. (II) | L + D | Comprehensive Earth System models | MH | |
| p.m. (I) | L | Global change II (Uncertainties, open questions, socio-economic aspects) Q/A | MH |
Literature
- Wallace and Hobbs, Atmospheric Science, Elsevier Academic Press, International Geophysics Series, v92, 2002, ISBN: 0-12-732950-1, 483pp.
- Schlesinger: Biogeochemistry - An analysis of global change, Elsevier Academic Press, 1997, ISBN: 978-0-12-625155-5, 588pp.
- Jacobson, Charlson, Rhode and Orians: Earth System Science, Elsevier Academic Press, International Geophysics Series vol. 72, 2000, ISBN: 978-0-12-379370-6, 527pp.