The students completing this course will be able to apply standard numerical solution techniques to problems in Oceanographic, Atmospheric and Earth Science.
The course assumes a mathematics background including vector calculus and linear algebra. Students weak in either of these areas will be directed to readings to strengthen their knowledge. Programming experience is greatly recommended.
This course is not lecture based. The course is an interactive, computer based laboratory course. The computer will lead you through the laboratory (like a set of lab notes) and you will answer problems most of which use the computer. The course consists of three parts. A set of required interactive, computer based laboratory exercises, a choice of elective laboratory exercises and a project. The project will be a group project determined through consultation between the instructors, the student and their supervisors.
During the meeting times, there will be group worksheets to delve into the material, brief presentations to help with technical matters, time to ask questions in a group format and also individually and time to read and work on the laboratories.
You can use a web-browser to examine the course exercises. Point your browser to:
1400-1600 Mondays, Room 127, Earth and Oceans Sciences (EOS) Main
Important Note: this course will be online for a number of weeks at the beginning of the term, including assessments. We will start in-person meetings on a date yet to be determined by the University. At the very earliest, this will be Jan 24th. This date may be updated as time goes on. When we resume in-person activities, we will meet in our scheduled classroom space on campus. For meetings prior to that time, we will meet on Zoom: you can find the zoom link on the home page of our canvas site: https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/82440/pages/numerical-techniques-2022
Laboratory Exercises 30% (individual with collaboration)
Quizzes 5% (individual)
Worksheets 5% (group)
Project Proposal 10% (group)
Project 40% (group)
Project Oral Presentation 10% (group)
For each computer laboratory there will be an assigned exercise set. Note that these are not necessarily the same as the problems in the lab and will generally be a much smaller set. Laboratory exercises can be worked with partners or alone. Each student must upload their own solution in their own words.
Quizzes are done online, reflect the learning objectives of each lab and are assigned to ensure you do the reading with enough depth to participate fully in the class worksheets and have the background to do the Laboratory Exercises. There will be a “grace space” policy allowing you to miss one quiz.
The in-class worksheets will be marked for a complete effort. There will be a “grace space” policy allowing you to miss one class worksheet. The grace space policy is to accommodate missed classes due to illness, “away games” for athletes etc. In-class paper worksheets are done as a group and are to handed in (one worksheet only per group) at the end of the worksheet time.
The project will be done in groups of three to four. It is to be chosen in consultation with your research supervisors and the instructors.
The laboratory problem sets are to be uploaded to the course CANVAS page. Sometimes, rather than a large series of plots, you may wish to include a summarizing table. If you do not understand the scope of a problem, please ask. Help with the labs is available 1) through piazza (see CANVAS) so you can contact your classmates and ask them 2) during the weekly scheduled lab or 3) directly from the instructors. Assignments, quizzes, mini-projects and the project are expected on time. Late ones will be marked and then the mark will be multiplied by \((0.9)^{\rm (number\ of\ days\ or\ part\ days\ late)}\). (Below we give two dates for each assignment. You should aim for the first one (this would keep you totally up to date). The later one allows a couple of days in case. )
Recommended timing. Problems to be handed in can be found on the webpage.
Laboratory One: One Week
Laboratory Two: One Week
Laboratory Three: One Week
Laboratory Four: One and a Half Weeks
Laboratory Five: Half a Week
Laboratory Seven: One Week
Choose one of the following concentration. Time scale two and a half weeks.
Rest of Lab 5
Lab 6
Lab 9 (FFT’s)
End of Lab 7
Lab 8
Lab 10
Rest of Lab 5
Lab 6
Rest of Lab 7
Lab 10
Done in groups of three. Chosen in consultation with your research supervisors and the instructors. Should be choosen before the elective labs.
Time scale three and half weeks.
UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sex- ual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious and cultural observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here
https://senate.ubc.ca/policies-resources-support-student-success.
Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and the Earth Sciences havebeen historically dominated by a small subset of privileged people who are predominantly male and white, missing out on many influential individuals thoughts and experiences. In this course, we would like to create an environment that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives and experiences, and honours your identities. To help accomplish this:
Please let us know your preferred name and/or set of pronouns.
If you feel like your performance in our class is impacted by your experiences outside of class, please don’t hesitate to come and talk with us. We want to be a resource for you and to help you succeed.
If an approach in class does not work well for you, please talk to any of the teaching team and we will do our best to make adjustments. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated.
We are all still learning about diverse perspectives and identities. If something was said in class (by anyone) that made you feel uncomfortable, please talk to us about it
Students are expected to learn material with honesty, integrity, and responsibility.
Honesty means you should not take credit for the work of others, and if you work with others you are careful to give them the credit they deserve.
Integrity means you follow the rules you are given and are respectful towards others and their attempts to do so as well.
Responsibility means that you if you are unclear about the rules in a specific case you should contact the instructor for guidance.
The course will involve a mixture of individual and group work. We try to be flexible about this as my priority is for you to learn the material rather than blindly follow rules, but there are rules. Plagiarism (i.e. copying of others work) and cheating (not following the rules) can result in penalties ranging from zero on an assignment to failing the course.
The first two classes, January 10 and January 17, will be held on zoom. See course canvas site for zoom link.
If we return to the classroom on January 24, we will add a COVID safety statement here.
For due dates etc, please see the Detailed Schedule.