Damien Bouffard: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2022

Name Dr. Damien Bouffard
Address
EAWAG
Seestrasse 79
6047 Kastanienbaum
SWITZERLAND
Telephone0587652273
E-maildamien.bouffard@usys.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-1338-00LBiogeochemical Modelling of Sediments, Lakes and Oceans Restricted registration - show details
Number of participants limited to 18.
3 credits2GM. Schmid, D. Bouffard, M. Vogt
AbstractIn this course, the students acquire skills to implement, evaluate and analyse the results of basic numerical models for the simulation of biogeochemical processes in aquatic systems using Python, to interpret and document model results, and to critically discuss model limitations. The focus of the course is on practical applications.
ObjectiveThe 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.
ContentNumerical models are useful tools for the evaluation of processes in complex systems, the interpretion of observational data, and the projection of 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 Python, to interpret and document model results in written and oral form, and to critically 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, initial and boundary conditions)
- Implementation of simple models in Python (box models, 1D-models, with applications from sediments, lakes, and oceans)
- Techniques for applied modelling & model testing (sensitivity analysis, parameter estimation)
- Model evaluation against observational data (model evaluation metrics in space and time)
- Interpretation and documentation of model results
- Model applications in current aquatic research (recent examples from the scientific literature)
Lecture notesPresentation slides, exercises, and some background material will be provided.
LiteratureDM 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
E Holzbecher, 2012, Environmental Modeling Using MATLAB, 2nd edition, Springer
JM Stewart, 2017. Python for Scientists, Cambridge University Press
Prerequisites / NoticeThe students are expected to work with their own laptop where Python should be installed prior to the start of the class. We recommend also installing a development environment such as the Educational Edition of PyCharm or the Anaconda distribution with Spyder.

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

Basic programming knowledge in Python is required, e.g. the following course:
Anwendungsnahes Programmieren mit Python (252-0840-02L, spring semester, German)

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

The number of participants is limited to 18. Selection of the students: order of registration.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Problem-solvingassessed
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationassessed
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingassessed
Critical Thinkingassessed