Skill course: Modeling & Numerical Techniques 2015
 

The skill course will have a modular structure to satisfy both the need for an introduction into modeling in general and into specific areas of application.

 

1.  General information

Date: Oct 20 - Nov 4, 2015
Place: seminar room B0.002, MPI-BGC

 

2.  Preliminary agenda

Legend
L = lecture, P = practical
 

DaySlotTypeContentWho
 
Tue, Oct 20  Mathematical conceptsCarlos Sierra
 
 09:00 - 12:00L

- Functions, limits, derivatives, integrals
- Systems of equations and linear algebra
- Differential equations

 
 13:00 - 16:00P

- Functions in R, splines and numerical integration
- Solving systems of equations in R
- Symbolic mathematics in SymPy
- Solving differential equations in R

 
Wed, Oct 21  Basics of ecological modelingCarlos Sierra
 
 09:00 - 12:00L

- Model formulation: concepts and model equations
- Ecological interactions and coupled equations
- Stability and steady-state

 
 13:00 - 16:00P

- Numerical solution of models
- Model-data integration

 
Mon, Nov 2  Basics of Earth system modelingAxel Kleidon
 
 09:00 - 12:00L/P

- introduction to Earth system modeling
- physical basics
- examples in spreadsheets

 
 14:00 - 17:00L/P

- linear reservoir
- diffusion equation
- examples in spreadsheets

 
Wed, Nov 3  Models of the Atmosphere-Biosphere systemAxel Kleidon
 
 09:00 - 12:00L/P

- energy balance models
- land surface models
- examples in spreadsheets

 
 14:00 - 17:00L/P

- climate sensitivity
- feedback analysis
- tipping points
- examples in spreadsheets

 
Wed, Nov 4  ProjectsAxel Kleidon
 
 09:00 - 12:00P

- introduction to projects
- project work

 
 14:00 - 17:00P

- project work
- presentation of outcome

 
 

3.  What you need to prepare

There are no pre-knowledge needed to participate in the module on basic modeling.

Bring a laptop and make sure that a recent version of R is running on your laptop.
You can download the most recent version here: http://www.r-project.org/
RStudio is a new open-source integrated development environment that runs on all platforms. It nicely combines console, script editor, working directory, plots etc. into a an uncluttered layout that you can easily navigate. You need to have R installed before you can use RStudio as a development environment.

Please also make sure that you can access the internet via WLAN (BGC-users, if you have a BGC-account; BGC-guests, if you don't have an account).

 

4.  Feedback

4.1  Part 1 by Carlos Sierra

5 out of 6 participants filled in the survey by December 10, 2015. Thanks a lot for taking time! Your feedback is valuable because it helps the instructors and organizers to improve the individual modules and the general structure of the course.
The survey results are available here. Statistics and statements should not be taken as an exhaustive or exclusive list.

 

4.2  Part 2 by Axel Kleidon

5 out of 7 participants filled in the survey by December 07, 2015. Thanks a lot for taking time! Your feedback is valuable because it helps the instructors and organizers to improve the individual modules and the general structure of the course.
The survey results are available here. Statistics and statements should not be taken as an exhaustive or exclusive list.

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