Syllabus, ATM 625 [Spring 2008] Scaling in the Geosciences

ATM 625 Scaling in the Geosciences "A Graduate Course in Scaling Issues across the Geoscience Disciplines" Institute of Atmospheric Sciences South Dakota School of Mines Rapid City, South Dakota

Who Where When

Prof.:	Bill Capehart, MI 213, Open Door Office Hours, Ph: 394-1994, Email: <William.Capehart@sdsmt.edu>
Classroom:	Lectures: MW 1000-1050, MI 220 Lab: CURRENT PROPOSED TIME: F 1600-1730, MI 325 (GIS Lab)
WWW:	http://capehart.sdsmt.edu/atm-625.html

Reference Text

Quattrochi & Goodchild: Scale in Remote Sensing and GIS

Reserved Text

Turcotte: Fractals and chaos in geology and geophysics

Isaaks & Srivastava: An Introduction to Applied Geostatistics

Knighton: Fluvial forms and processes

Leopold, Wolman & Miller: Fluvial processes in geomorphology

Overview

Issues regarding the scaling of physical processes across various problem domains in the geosciences will be presented and explored through lectures, labs and course projects. Topics include Fourier Analysis, Taylor/Moment Expansion, Fractals, Power Laws, and Upscaling/Downscaling Techniques. Discussed research and operational applications include Weather and Climate Prediction, Turbulence, Hydrology, Remote Sensing & GIS, Ecosystem Studies, and Geology.

This is a seminar-based and research-driven course with a spin-up series of lectures from the lead professors and student-driven and directed lectures and activities for the balance of the course.

Prerequisites

This course requires a minimum background of Calculus 2 (SDSMT's MATH 125 or Equivalent), and basic programming skills (e.g., SDSMT's CSC 150, CEE 284, or Equivalent). A statistics background comparable to SDSMT's MATH 441 & 442 will come in handy as well. Most science and engineering graduate students have this background already under their belt on arrival to 'Mines.

Additionally, Geospatial technology skills (GIS and Remote Sensing) may come in handy. However, the lack of these skills should not block participation.

Program Certifications

This course satisfies the IAS MS program Technical Methods coursework requirement.

Course Topics

SPIN-UP LECTURES

Introductory Lectures
The Why-For Regarding Issues of Scale in Geosciences
Scaling: Definitions and Interpretations

Scaling Assault Skills
Fourier Series 1-D
Fourier Series 2-D
Taylor Series Expansion and Non-Linear System Scaling
Fractals
Wavelets
Guest Faculty Contributions

EXAMPLES OF SCALING APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

Topics Include but are not limited to...
Numerical Weather Prediction
Turbulence
Remote Sensing
Geomorphology
Hydrology and Fluvial Systems
Multiscale Computational Infrastructure for Geoscience Applications

STUDENT-DRIVEN LECTURES ON SCALING

'Sup to the students now isn't it?

Topics can include any geosciences-related concept or process whose interpretation or handling changes with scale. Computational issues are permitted but they must be spun into an explicitly geoscience-oriented topic.

Student- & Guest-Driven Lectures

Though matters and challenges of scale can be found in most-to-all geoscience disciplines, specific headaches and their solutions vary. Therefore, students will provide at least two lectures (comprising one class-week) of talks and a hands-on lab exercise to focus on their particular scaling challenges. These lectures should be accessible to most graduate-level Atmospheric Scientists, Geologists, Geological and Civil Engineers and must be presented in a multidisciplinary format, thus spinning their specific challenges and solutions to a broader audience.

Laboratory

The Lab Period will provide a structured environment where scaling issues in various datasets will be explored. Students Lectures are expected to contain a hands-on component.

Grading

One Half: Project and Paper
One Half: Student Lectures

Paper

Students will also integrate the concepts they have learned into a final project, presented as a professional quality paper. The folding of the contents of this course into their thesis (and vice versa) is strongly encouraged if appropriate.

Machine/Human Compatibility And Related Items

Specific physical issues (e.g., vision problems including red-green colorblindness) to the individual, machine related or otherwise, should be brought to my immediate attention in person and that of the campus ADA coordinator.

Supplemental Materials

Contact: William Capehart

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http://www.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/ias/courses/atm625

Last Modified: 01/16/2008