General Circulation Models II - Atmosphere and Land Surface

The course of General Circulation Model, Part II, aims to introduce the global circulation models, with particular reference to atmospheric models, and provide the basics to use them.
In particular, at the end of the course students will acquire the theoretical concepts underlying the functioning of the models, the technical expertise with regard to their functioning, the competence on parameterizations of the components, and the capability to understand the differences between forecasts and projections, and finally they will be able to run GCM on a CMCC computer

Basic knowledge of mathematics, physics and numerics; courses (Atmospheric dynamics, Ocean dynamics, Earth-system dynamics, GFDI).

Lesson plan, part II Atmosphere and Land Surface

no. 1
Atmosphere – Introduction, definition and basic concept of GCMs, history, model hierarchy
no. 2
Atmosphere – Numerical methods for AGCMs: an introduction to finite difference, finite elements, numerical stability
no. 3
Atmosphere – Parameterizations in AGCMs: radiation, clouds and convection
no. 4
Atmosphere – Land surface and its representation in AGCMs
no. 5
Atmosphere – Prediction and projections: different experiments with AGCMs and coupled GCMs
no. 6
Atmosphere – Exercise using the CMCC model: launch of a new experiment, scripting, compilation, run

Required readings will be provided by the instructors

English

Attendance to the course is required. Academic honesty is an important part of university training. While students may discuss assignments with their classmates and others, they are expected to make sure any written material they submit is their own work. Students are expected to know how to cite the work of others and present a bibliography of the research texts that were used.

Participation is mandatory and students are expected to play an active role during classes.
Final exam: oral exam