Sebastian Schemm: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2023

Name Prof. Dr. Sebastian Schemm
FieldAtmospheric Circulation
Address
Institut für Atmosphäre und Klima
ETH Zürich, CHN M 16.2
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 632 75 66
E-mailsebastian.schemm@env.ethz.ch
URLhttps://iac.ethz.ch/group/atmospheric-circulation.html
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipAssistant Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
061-0101-00LClimate / Water / Soil Information Restricted registration - show details 2 credits3GH. Joos, R. Kretzschmar, R. Weingartner, A. Carminati, S. Dötterl, M. G. Fellin, A. Frossard, T. Galí-Izard, N. Gruber, V. Picotti, S. Schemm, J. Schwaab, C. Steger, H. Wernli
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”, 25.–28.09.2023
- 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”, 2.10.–5.10.23
- 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”, 09.10.–12.10.2023

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", 25.–28.09.2023
Module 2 "Soil", 2.10.–5.10.23
Module 3 "Water", 09.10.–12.10.2023

- 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
651-4095-01LColloquium Atmosphere and Climate 1 Information Restricted registration - show details 1 credit1KH. Joos, H. Wernli, D. N. Bresch, D. Domeisen, N. Gruber, R. Jnglin Wills, R. Knutti, U. Lohmann, C. Mohr, C. Schär, S. Schemm, S. I. Seneviratne, M. Wild
AbstractThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
Learning objectiveThe students are exposed to different atmospheric science topics and learn how to take part in scientific discussions.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
651-4095-02LColloquium Atmosphere and Climate 2 Information Restricted registration - show details 1 credit1KH. Joos, H. Wernli, D. N. Bresch, D. Domeisen, N. Gruber, R. Jnglin Wills, R. Knutti, U. Lohmann, C. Mohr, C. Schär, S. Schemm, S. I. Seneviratne, M. Wild
AbstractThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
Learning objectiveThe students are exposed to different atmospheric science topics and learn how to take part in scientific discussions.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
651-4095-03LColloquium Atmosphere and Climate 3 Information Restricted registration - show details 1 credit1KH. Joos, H. Wernli, D. N. Bresch, D. Domeisen, N. Gruber, R. Jnglin Wills, R. Knutti, U. Lohmann, C. Mohr, C. Schär, S. Schemm, S. I. Seneviratne, M. Wild
AbstractThe colloquium is a series of scientific talks by prominent invited speakers assembling interested students and researchers from around Zürich. Students take part of the scientific discussions.
Learning objectiveThe students are exposed to different atmospheric science topics and learn how to take part in scientific discussions.
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesfostered
701-0071-00LMathematics III: Systems Analysis4 credits2V + 1UC. Brunner, R. Knutti, S. Schemm, H. Wernli
AbstractThe objective of the systems analysis course is to deepen and illustrate the mathematical concepts on the basis of a series of very concrete examples. Topics covered include: linear box models with one or several variables, non-linear box models with one or several variables, time-discrete models, and continuous models in time and space.
Learning objectiveLearning and applying of concepts (models) and quantitative methods to address concrete problems of environmental relevance. Understanding and applying the systems-analytic approach, i.e., Recognizing the core of the problem - simplification - quantitative approach - prediction.
Contenthttps://iac.ethz.ch/edu/courses/bachelor/vorbereitung/systemanalyse.html
Lecture notesOverhead slides will be made available through the course website.
LiteratureImboden, D.S. and S. Pfenninger (2013) Introduction to Systems Analysis: Mathematically Modeling Natural Systems. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.

http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-3-642-30639-6
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Problem-solvingassessed
Personal CompetenciesCreative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered