PhD programmes - Science and Technology
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Numerical Modelling of Weather and Climate

Lecturers: dr. Andrea Bisignano (DICAM/UNITN), prof. Simona Bordoni (DICAM/UNITN), dr. Lorenzo Giovannini (DICAM/UNITN), prof. Dino Zardi (DICAM/UNITN)

Timetable: 1-14 September 2021 - the course will be offered in a blended format: in presence at DICAM (room 1H), and online via Zoom. The link for online participation will be sent to all registered participants

  • Wednesday 01/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Thursday 02/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Friday 03/09: 09:30-12:30.
  • Monday 06/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Tuesday 07/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Wednesday 08/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Thursday 09/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Friday 10/09: 09:30-12:30.
  • Monday 13/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.
  • Tuesday 14/09: 09:30-12:30; 14:00-17:00.

Description: The course provides an introduction to atmosphere and climate modelling, starting from the governing physical principles, that are presented in the first part. The following parts of the course focus on climate, meteorological and dispersion models, introducing specific relevant topics for the different types of models, including parameterizations, initial and boundary conditions and ensemble modelling. The course offers both theoretical contents and practical exercises. The practical sessions consist in the analysis of data from climate prediction models and in two exercises on meteorological and dispersion modelling.

Contents:

Introduction

  • Equations of the atmospheric motion in a rotating frame of reference and in spherical polar coordinates. Scaling analysis of momentum equations for synoptic scale motion. Geostrophic balance. Geostrophic wind. Deviations from pure geostrophic flow in the atmospheric boundary layer.
  • Equations governing the transport of passive scalars. Advection and diffusion.
  • Reynolds average of momentum equations and advection/diffusion equations.

Climate models

  • Introduction to climate modelling: history, types and fundamentals of climate models. Different components of climate models, parameterisations with a specific focus on cloud and convection parameterisations. Frontiers in climate modelling: high-resolution, large ensembles and machine learning approaches.
  • Intercomparison projects and IPCC reports.
  • Practical session on the Copernicus Climate Data Store and CMIP6 model output.

Meteorological models

  • Introduction to meteorological modelling: history, types and fundamentals of meteorological models. Parameterizations of meteorological models, initial and boundary conditions, ensemble meteorological forecasts.
  • Introduction to the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) meteorological model: structure of the WRF modelling system, WRF Preprocessing System, overview of the main physics and dynamic options.
  • Practical session on the WRF meteorological model.

Dispersion models

  • Introduction to dispersion models.
  • Coupling between meteorological and dispersion models.
  • Practical session on a dispersion model.

Registration: in order to access the course, please send an email to dicamphd [at] unitn.it