JORD210 Dynamic Modelling in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere System

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Attila Nemes

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:20

Course frequency:Annual

Nominal workload:250 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel.

About this course

Environmental simulation modeling is used world-wide to study e.g. climate change effects, cropping and land-use planning scenarios or the transport of nutrients and pollutants in soil and the landscape. Such studies routinely assist practitioners and decision makers and help achieve several UN Sustainable Development Goals. During this course students will learn about key concepts underlying process-based simulation modeling in the soil-plant-atmosphere system and will learn to use the FAO Aquacrop simulation model. We will focus on the importance and knowhow of model parameterization, model calibration and validation, parameter sensitivity analysis and the importance of sources of uncertainty. The students will use case study exercises and develop model scenarios (e.g. climate change, irrigation scheduling, soil tillage effects, etc.) and learn to interpret model results and their inherent uncertainties. In the second half of the course, a greater pool of numerical simulation models will be introduced through guest lectures, in order to help understand how different model types include different additional components and address various other types of processes at different spatial and temporal scales (e.g. biogeochemical processes, soil erosion events, catchment scale water (re-)distribution, global-scale land-surface interactions, etc.). The course is designed to equip environmental science students with stronger computational background and strengthen the environmental science background of students in science and technology studies.

Learning outcome

At the end of the course students will have obtained the following knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

Students will:

  1. understand key concepts behind process-based 1D soil-plant-atmosphere models,
  2. be able to determine quantitative causal connections in the soil-plant-atmosphere system,
  3. present and interpret model sensitivity and scenario analyses,
  4. understand the conceptual differences between various model types presented during the course that work on different spatial or temporal scales or have a different focus than plant growth (e.g. erosion, nutrient loss, etc.).

Skills

Students will be able to:

  1. prepare input and validation data for the FAO Aquacrop model,
  2. present and interpret a modeling case,
  3. perform, present and interpret data- and/or parameterization scenarios (i.e. uncertainty or sensitivity analyses),
  4. become functional users of the FAO Aquacrop model

General competence

To be able to communicate the value of simulation modeling in the assessment of ongoing climate change impacts, crop growing and land use planning scenarios, and discuss the associated uncertainties.

  • Learning activities
    Lectures and exercises (computer lab). 4h each week
  • Teaching support

    1. Introductory lectures

    2. Hand-outs and exercises

    3. Supervision during class by the teachers

    In addition to the regular meeting hours, staff will be available for advice during office hours.

  • Prerequisites
    JORD100.
  • Assessment method

    One assignment.

    Grading scale: Pass / Not passed.



  • Examiner scheme
    The course responsible evaluates the written assignments.
  • Mandatory activity
    Participation (80%) in class. Submission of the assignments.
  • Teaching hours
    Lectures and exercises will take place in the computer lab. 4 hours each week.
  • Preferential right
    B-MILJØ, M-MILJØ.
  • Reduction of credits
    Students that have exams in JORD201 Process Modelling in Soil Water and Plant Systems and JORD251, Soil Classification will get at reduction in ECTS credits of five and two respectively
  • Admission requirements
    Special requirements in Science