Syllabus

Geog 410 Modeling of Environmental Systems

Fall 2009

Instructor: Dr. Conghe Song (email: csong at email dot unc dot edu, phone: 843-4764)

Class: MWF 10:00-10:50am @ 322 Saunders Hall

Instructor’s Office hours: MWF 2:00-3:00pm, 310 Saunders Hall, other times by appointment only

 

Course Description: The environment is a dynamic and living system in which the interactions of numerous biological, biophysical and biogeochemical processes determine the rate and the direction of change. A comprehensive understanding of the past and current status of the environment and prediction for its status in the future cannot be achieved without the help of computer-based models. On the one hand, computer-based models can integrate natural history, physiological, and ecological information that has been gathered over many years by many people; on the other hand, computer-based models can simulate the environment in various hypothetical conditions (e.g. a common hypothetical condition in global climate change is doubling the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere). Geog 410 takes a system’s view of the environment, and introduces the fundamental concepts and approaches in modeling of environmental systems. Essentially all environmental processes are driven by energy associated with flow of matter (e.g. water and nutrients). The course will be focused on modeling the dynamics of energy and matter flow through the environment, including the energy and matter flow in the natural environment and that with human disturbance. Throughout the course, we will use the Matlab as the tool to assist us to model the environmental systems. The course is composed of three components: instructor lectures, hands-on experience in using Matlab to model the environmental systems and in class discussions. The objectives of the course include: (1) understanding of the fundamental principles how environmental systems work, (2) understanding of systems thinking, and (3) proficient use of Matlab in solving problems of similar nature in the future.

 

Text Book: Dynamic Modeling of Environmental Systems, Michael L. Deaton and James J. Winebrake, Springer, New York, 2000. ISBN: 0-387-98880-7.

 

Other Reference Books:

An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics. 2nd Edition. Gaylon S. Campbell and John M. Norman. Springer. 1998. ISBN: 0-0-387-94937-2

 

Grading Policy*: 

Midterm 1: 10%

Midterm 2: 10%

Midterm 3: 10%

Attendance: 10%

Final Exam: 20%

Labs: 40%

 

*No make up tests will be given for midterms. Any student failing to take one of the midterm exams will score zero for that test unless a legitimate, documented reason is presented to the instructor. In the latter case the student will have the average score from the other two exams added in place of the missing test. Absence for the final exam will receive a final grade AB unless an “Examination Excuse” or “Official Permit” from the Dean or the Director of Student Health Service is presented. Any one with more than 3 unexcused absences from regular class or final exam will lost all attendance scores.

 

Schedules*:

week

day

date

topic

reading

1

Wed

26-Aug

course Introduction

 

 

Fri

28-Aug

Lab 1: Matlab Introduction (I)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

Mon

31-Aug

Functions

Lecture Notes

 

Wed

2-Sep

Derivatives

Lecture Notes

 

Fri

4-Sep

Lab 2: Matlab Introduction II

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

Mon

7-Sep

Labor Day Holiday

 

 

Wed

9-Sep

Integration

Lecture Notes

 

Fri

11-Sep

Regression

Lecture Notes

 

 

 

 

 

4

Mon

14-Sep

Midterm 1

 

 

Wed

16-Sep

Environmental System Overview

Lecture Notes

 

Fri

18-Sep

Lab 3: Matlab Introduction III

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Mon

21-Sep

Systems View of the Environment

Chapter 1.1-1.3, Deaton

 

Wed

23-Sep

System Approaches to Env. Prob.

Chapter 1.4-1.5, Deaton

 

Fri

25-Sep

Linear/Exponential Growth

chapter 2.2-2.3

 

 

 

 

 

6

Mon

28-Sep

Overshoot and Logistic

chapter 2.4--2.5

 

Wed

30-Sep

Oscillation

chapter 2.6

 

Fri

2-Oct

Lab 4: Modeling Growth & Decay Dyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

Mon

5-Oct

In class discussion, Page 21 exercises

 

 

Wed

7-Oct

Modeling Strategies I

chapter 3, Deaton

 

Fri

9-Oct

Lab 5: Understanding System Dynamics

 

 

 

 

 

8

Mon

12-Oct

University Day (class cancelled )

 chapter 3, Deaton

 

Wed

14-Oct

Modeling Strategies II

 

 

Fri

16-Oct

In Class Dicussion Page 58 Exercises

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

Mon

19-Oct

Midterm 2

Chapter 10 Campbell & Norman

 

Wed

21-Oct

Radiation Basics

Chapter 11 Campbell & Norman

 

Fri

23-Oct

Fall Break

 

 

 

 

 

 

10

Mon

26-Oct

Radiation Absorption by Plants-I

Chapter 15 Campbell & Norman

 

Wed

28-Oct

Radiation in Natural Env

Chapter 15 Campbell & Norman

 

Fri

30-Oct

Lab 6 Incoming solar radiation

 

 

 

 

 

 

11

Mon

2-Nov

Radiation Absorption by Plants-II

Lecture notes

 

Wed

4-Nov

Ecosystem Carbon Cycle -I

Lecture notes

 

Fri

6-Nov

Lab 7 Plant Absorption of Radiation

 

 

 

 

 

 

12

Mon

9-Nov

Ecosystem Carbon Cycle -II

Lecture Notes

 

Wed

11-Nov

Modeling Plant Carbon Assimilation

Chapter 6 Deaton

 

Fri

13-Nov

Lab 8 Plant Carbon Assimilation

Chapter 6 Deaton, lecture notes

 

 

 

 

 

13

Mon

16-Nov

Water Movement in the Soil

Lecture notes

 

Wed

18-Nov

Water Movement through plants

 

 

Fri

20-Nov

 review

 

 

 

 

 

 

14

Mon

23-Nov

Midterm3 (Study Guide)

 

 

Wed

25-Nov

Thanksgiving

 

 

Fri

27-Nov

Thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

Mon

30-Nov

Modeling Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems

Chapter 6 Deaton

 

Wed

2-Dec

Global Water/Nutrient Cycle

Chapter 8 Deaton

 

Fri

6-Dec

Global Warming

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Mon

9-Dec

Review for Final Exam

Last Day of Class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Exam: 8am Wed, Dec 16

 

 

*Schedules are subject to change due to unexpected events.