Z8076 Methods in Physical Geography 2 - climatology, meteorology, hydrology

Faculty of Science
autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Petr Dobrovolný, CSc. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Kamil Láska, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Monika Šulc Michalková, Ph.D. et Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Petr Dobrovolný, CSc.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Petr Dobrovolný, CSc.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Tue 15:00–15:50 Z2,01032
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
Z8076/01: Mon 16:00–17:50 Z3,02045, P. Dobrovolný, K. Láska, M. Šulc Michalková
Prerequisites
The course is intended for postgraduate (MSc) students. Overall knowledge of physical geography on the undergraduate (BSc) level is required to attend the course.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal is to improve the knowledge of the methods applied in research • for subdisciplines of climatology, meteorology and hydrology, and possibly added some missing knowledge for students. Topics are presented in a lecture and follow-up exercises are focused on practical data processing, comparison of the basic procedures reported in the literature and used in practice, as well as a critical evaluation of the various procedures. The exercises have to explaine to students the process and all details of subsequently presented methods. They have to applied them by them selfs.
Learning outcomes
After finishing the course student should be able to:
Communicate the recent trends in research and methods of physical geography
Apply the selected research methods in the fields of meteorology, climatology and hydrology.
Actively use current databases of meteorological and hydrological data.
Apply modern methods of statistical data analysis to solve practical problems.
Syllabus
  • Lectures and seminars will be focused on basic methods used in the below-mentioned disciplines and sections.
  • Part of meteorology:
  • 1) Methods and instruments used in atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) studies - basic knowledge of dynamic meteorology and climatology - definition and delimitation of ABL - suitable instruments and sensors for data collection (balloons, dropsondes, UAV, ceilometer) - example of air temperature and surface wind modelling
  • 2) Methods and instruments used in local climate studies - definitions, climatic classifications, fieldwork plan - guidelines for the selection and installation of automatic weather station - suitable instruments and sensors - data collection and quality control - examples of temperature inversions, spatial analysis and map creation
  • 3) Methods and instruments used in microclimate studies - definitions, radiation and energy balance monitoring, influence of ground surface - fieldwork strategy, guidelines for the site selection - gradient and Bowen ratio methods, eddy covariance - examples of microclimate data processing and modelling
  • Part of climatology:
  • 4) Current data sources in meteorology and climatology, re-analysis, model outputs, E-OBS, CMIP5, ...)
  • 5) Specifics of time series analysis in climatology (methods of series transformation, methods of quantitative reconstruction from high-speed proxy data, modeling, calibration and verification)
  • 6) Extreme values ​​analysis (GEV - generalized breakdown of extreme values, block maxima, peak above threshold, parameter estimation, n-time estimates)
  • 7) Methods of study of spatial differentiation of selected meteorological elements and their climatological characteristics (modules PCA, EOF, climatic explorer)
  • Part of hydrology:
  • 8) Methods of measurement and processing of hydrological data, flow measurements methods and discharge estimation.
  • 9) Complex processing of hydrological data using statistical methods; case studies and applications in geographic practice.
  • 10) Additional resources of water, water balance, water reservoirs; computation methodology for the beginning of accumulation.
  • 11) Hydrological and hydrodynamic models - types of hydrological models and an overview of modelling methods, possibilities in geographic practice
Literature
  • FOKEN, Thomas. Micrometeorology. Translated by C. J. Nappo. Berlin: Springer, 2008, xix, 306. ISBN 9783540746652. info
  • BROCK, Fred V. and Scott J. RICHARDSON. Meteorological measurement systems. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, xi, 290. ISBN 0195134516. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussion/debate, projects, professional methodology.
Assessment methods
During the course students are to elaborate seminar works, that are evaluated separately. Type of exam - written. The final mark takes in account also the evaluation of seminar works.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2016, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2021/Z8076