ESS-34306 Field Training Land-Atmosphere Interactions

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Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

MAQ-22806 Atmosphere-Vegetation-Soil Interactions, ESS-20306 System Earth: Scale dependence, Feedbacks and Global Change, ESS-21306 Principles of Earth and Ecosystem Science or ESS-31806 Biogeochemical Cycles, or equivalent courses (in consultation with course coordinator Bart Kruijt).

Continuation courses:

MSc Thesis Earth System Science, MSc Thesis Meteorology, MSc Thesis Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry

Contents:

This course focuses on performing field experiments that will gain insight in to the temporal and spatial variability of the carbon-cycle and the energy balance at the earth's surface in relation to the heterogeneity and complexity of landscapes and ecosystems. The course will provide basic training in several measurement techniques, experimental design and data interpretation in the context of (micro) meteorology, ecophysiology, soil science, and climate change science. The landscape will be analyzed as the result of its geological past, hydrological and meteorological processes, vegetation history and land use. Different spatial and temporal scales will be considered. Biogeochemical processes, especially in ecophysiology and climate change science, and associated transport processes, will be measured and analyzed at three dedicated field sites in the Netherlands and Spain.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course the student is expected to be able to:
- recognize and analyze the heterogeneity and complexity of landscapes and ecosystems;
- design sampling schemes representative of the relevant temporal and spatial scales;
- work with field monitoring equipment used in meteorology, biogeochemistry, ecophysiology and land-atmosphere exchange research;
- design and execute a field experiment that focuses on land-atmosphere exchange processes and interpret the data;
- analyze, interpret and synthesize data in the context of Earth System Science and Climate Change research.

Activities:

- geological and soil science excursion and practical;
- training in meteorological and ecophysiological field techniques and experimental design;
- perform field measurements at different sites in the Netherlands and Spain;
- perform quality control of data and process the data into relevant quantities;
- lab and data analysis techniques, hypothesis testing and project presentation.

Examination:

Assessment is based on:
- the quality of the dataset submitted after finishing the measurements;
- the poster and the oral presentation of it;
- the scientific report;
- the student's functioning during the practical.

Literature:

No literature available.