Jacopo Riboldi: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2024

Name Dr. Jacopo Riboldi
Address
Professur für Atmosphärendynamik
ETH Zürich, CHN M 12.3
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 27 49
E-mailjacopo.riboldi@env.ethz.ch
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
061-0101-00LClimate / Water / Soil Information Restricted registration - show details 2 credits3GH. Joos, R. Kretzschmar, P. Molnar, A. Carminati, S. Dötterl, M. G. Fellin, A. Frossard, T. Galí-Izard, N. Gruber, J. P. Leitão Correia , V. Picotti, J. Riboldi, C. Steger
AbstractLectures, exercises and excursions serve as an introduction to atmospheric sciences, soil science and hydrology. Students gain a broad vision of the cutting edge topics that are being researched and studied at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH, Eawag, WSL a.o. This will be the base for a future dialog between the field of landscape architecture and the field of sciences.
Learning objectiveStudents acquire basic knowledge in atmospheric sciences, hydrology and soil science:
- Understanding basic chemical and physical processes in the atmosphere that influence weather and climate
- Fundamentals about the classification of soils, soil-forming processes, physical and chemical soil properties, soil biology and ecology, soil degradation and protection
- Knowledge of water balance, principles of integral water management and climatic factors in the field of hydrology

Students develop an understanding of the relevance of these topics in the field of landscape architecture. Temporal and physical scale, research methods, units of measurement, lexicon, modes of representation and critical literature form the framework for the joint discourse.
ContentThe course unit consists of the three courses "Climate", "Soil" and "Water", which are organized in modules.

Module 1 “Climate”, 23–27.09.2024
- Atmospheric dynamics: weather conditions, precipitation formation, weather forecast
- Carbon Cycle: atmospheric CO2 concentrations and its interaction with the physical climate system
- Land-climate dynamics: interaction between the land surface and the climate system
- Hydrology and water cycle: extreme precipitation, influence of climate change on the cryosphere
- Introduction to geology: formation of rocks, geologic times, structural geology


Module 2 “Soil”, 30.09.–04.10.24
- Introduction to soils: definition, function, formation, classification and mapping
- Soil physics: soil texture, soil structure, soil water potentials, hydraulic conductivity
- Soil chemistry and fertility: clay minerals and oxides, cation exange capacity, soil pH, essential plant nutrients
- Soil biology and ecology: soil fauna and microflora, fungi, bacteria, food web, organic matter
- Soil degradation and threats to soil resources: erosion, compactation, sealing, contamination, salinization


Module 3 “Water”, 11.11.–15.11.2024

Basics:
- Water supply: water balance, groundwater, water quality (water protection)
- River restoration
- Flooding, evapotranspiration/cooling of landscapes
- Hydropower (everything is managed - lake levels, water flows, pumping) - hydrology in the anthropocene
- Water management and storage
Lecture notesCourse material will be provided.
LiteratureThe course material includes a reading list.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe courses "Climate", "Water" and "Soil" are organized with the Fundamental Studio I as joint one-week modules. The weekly schedules will be provided with the course materials.

Module 1 "Climate", 23.–27.09.2024
Module 2 "Soil", 30.09.–04.10.24
Module 3 "Water", 11–15.11.2024

- The courses are held in English
- The written session examination covers all three courses "Climate", "Soil" and "Water".
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Decision-makingassessed
Media and Digital Technologiesassessed
Social CompetenciesCommunicationassessed
Cooperation and Teamworkassessed
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingassessed
Critical Thinkingassessed
Integrity and Work Ethicsassessed
Self-awareness and Self-reflection assessed
701-1221-00LDynamics of Large-Scale Atmospheric Flow Information 4 credits2V + 1UH. Wernli, J. Riboldi
AbstractThis lecture course is about the fundamental aspects of the dynamics of extratropical weather systems (quasi-geostropic dynamics, potential vorticity, Rossby waves, baroclinic instability). The fundamental concepts are formally introduced, quantitatively applied and illustrated with examples from the real atmosphere. Exercises (quantitative and qualitative) form an essential part of the course.
Learning objectiveUnderstanding of dynamic processes of large-scale atmospheric flow and their mathematical-physical formulation.
ContentDynamical Meteorology is concerned with the dynamical processes of the
earth's atmosphere. The fundamental equations of motion in the atmosphere will be discussed along with the dynamics and interactions of synoptic system - i.e. the low and high pressure systems that determine our weather. The motion of such systems can be understood in terms of quasi-geostrophic theory. The lecture course provides a derivation of the mathematical basis along with some interpretations and applications of the concept.
Lecture notesDynamics of large-scale atmospheric flow
Literature- Holton J.R., An introduction to Dynamic Meteorogy. Academic Press, fourth edition 2004,
- Pichler H., Dynamik der Atmosphäre, Bibliographisches Institut, 456 pp. 1997
Prerequisites / NoticePhysics I, II, Environmental Fluid Dynamics
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Problem-solvingassessed
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingassessed