Christoph Schär: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2015

Name Prof. em. Dr. Christoph Schär
FieldClimate and Water Cycle
Address
Institut für Atmosphäre und Klima
ETH Zürich, CHN L 12.1
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 81 99
E-mailschaer@env.ethz.ch
URLhttp://www.iac.ethz.ch/people/schaer/
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipProfessor emeritus

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
401-5930-00LSeminar in Physics of the Atmosphere for CSE4 credits2SE. Fischer, C. Schär
AbstractIn this seminar the knowledge exchange between you and the other students is promoted. You attend lectures on scientific writing and you train your scientific writing skills by writing a proposal for your MSc thesis. You receive critical and constructive feedback through an in-depth review process by scientific writing experts and your future supervisors.
ObjectiveIn this seminar the knowledge exchange between you and the other students is promoted. You attend lectures on scientific writing and you train your scientific writing skills by writing a proposal for your MSc thesis. You receive critical and constructive feedback through an in-depth review process by scientific writing experts and your future supervisors.
651-4095-01LColloquium Atmosphere and Climate 1 Information 1 credit1KU. Lohmann, E. Fischer, N. Gruber, R. Knutti, T. Peter, C. Schär, S. I. Seneviratne, H. Wernli, M. Wild
AbstractThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
ObjectiveThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
Prerequisites / NoticeTo acquire credit points for this colloquium, please visit the course's web page and sign up for one of the groups.
651-4095-02LColloquium Atmosphere and Climate 2 Information 1 credit1KU. Lohmann, E. Fischer, N. Gruber, R. Knutti, T. Peter, C. Schär, S. I. Seneviratne, H. Wernli, M. Wild
AbstractThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
ObjectiveThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
Prerequisites / NoticeTo acquire credit points for this colloquium, please visit the course's web page and sign up for one of the groups.
651-4095-03LColloquium Atmosphere and Climate 31 credit1KU. Lohmann, E. Fischer, N. Gruber, R. Knutti, T. Peter, C. Schär, S. I. Seneviratne, H. Wernli, M. Wild
AbstractThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
ObjectiveThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
Prerequisites / NoticeTo acquire credit points for this colloquium, please visit the course's web page and sign up for one of the groups.
701-0461-AALNumerical Methods in Environmental Sciences Information
Enrolment only for MSc students who need this course as additional requirement.
3 credits6RC. Schär, O. Fuhrer
AbstractThis lecture imparts the mathematical basis necessary for the development and application of
numerical models in the field of Environmental Science. The lecture material includes an introduction into numerical techniques for solving ordinary and partial differential equations, as well as exercises aimed at the realization of simple models.
ObjectiveThis lecture imparts the mathematical basis necessary for the development and application of
numerical models in the field of Environmental Science. The lecture material includes an introduction into numerical techniques for solving ordinary and partial differential equations, as well as exercises aimed at the realization of simple models.
ContentClassification of numerical problems, introduction to finite-difference methods, time integration schemes, non-linearity, conservative numerical techniques, an overview of spectral and finite-element methods. Examples and exercises from a diverse cross-section of Environmental Science.

Three obligatory exercises, each two hours in length, are integrated into the lecture. The implementation language is Matlab (previous experience not necessary: a Matlab introduction is given). Example programs and graphics tools are supplied.
LiteratureList of literature is provided.
701-1216-00LNumerical Modelling of Weather and Climate4 credits3GC. Schär, U. Lohmann
AbstractThe guiding principle of this lecture is that students can understand how weather and climate models are formulated from the governing physical principles and how they are used for climate and weather prediction purposes.
ObjectiveThe guiding principle of this lecture is that students can understand how weather and climate models are formulated from the governing physical principles and how they are used for climate and weather prediction purposes.
ContentThe course provides an introduction into the following themes: numerical methods (finite differences and spectral methods); adiabatic formulation of atmospheric models (vertical coordinates, hydrostatic approximation); parameterization of physical processes (e.g. clouds, convection, boundary layer, radiation); atmospheric data assimilation and weather prediction; predictability (chaos-theory, ensemble methods); climate models (coupled atmospheric, oceanic and biogeochemical models); climate prediction.

Hands-on experience with simple models will be acquired in the tutorials.
Lecture notesSlides and lecture notes will be made available at
http://www.iac.ethz.ch/education/master/numerical_modelling_of_weather_and_climate
LiteratureList of literature will be provided.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites: to follow this course, you need some basic background in numerical methods (e.g., "Numerische Methoden in der Umweltphysik", 701-0461-00L)