Preliminary time schedule for PhD course inEnvironmental Biophysics3 hp

Based on textbook: Campbell GC& Norman JM.(2000). Introduction to Environmental Biophysics.Springer, 286 pp.

Time period: 7 – 11 May 2012; Hall 6 at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences GU

Responsible teacher: Håkan Pleijel BioEnv, GU,

To pass the course solutions to a number of problems should be submitted.

Time / Subject / Teacher
7 May / 09:00-11:00 / Temperature, gases, liquid water and wind in and near plant canopies / H Pleijel
11:00-12:00 / Temperature and humidity measurements, radiation protection, examples of microclimatic variation / J Klingberg
13:00-14:00 / Lab: start measurements of temperature and humidity in different environments (in GBT) / J Klingberg
14:00-15:30 / Calculation exercise / H Pleijel
8 May / 09:00-12:00 / Heat and mass transport near and in plant canopies / H Pleijel
11:00-12:00 / Sap flow and transpiration / J Uddling
13:00-14:00 / Lab: measurements of leaf temperatures with IR thermometers (GBT greenhouses) group 1
Measurements of leaf boundary layer group 2 / J Uddling + H Pleijel
G Wallin
14:00-16:00 / Calculation exercise / H Pleijel + G Wallin
9 May / 09:00-10:30 / Heat and water flow in soils / H Pleijel
10:30-12:00 / Pedometrics and crop yield / K Piikki
13:00-14:00 / Lab: measurements of leaf temperatures with IR thermometers (GBT greenhouses) group 2
Measurements of leaf boundary layer group 1 / J Uddling + H Pleijel
G Wallin
14:00-16:00 / Calculation exercise / H Pleijel + G Wallin
10 May / 09:00-10:30 / Radiation and radiation fluxes in plant canopies / H Pleijel
10:30-12:00 / Plant perception of light / P E Karlsson
13:00-14:00 / Lab: analyzing results from measurements of temperature and humidity / J Klingberg
14:00-15:00 / Calculation exercise / H Pleijel
11 May / 09:00-11:00 / Energy budgets for canopies – Penman-Monteiths equation, photosynthesis and light interception of canopies / H Pleijel
11:00-12:00 / Scaling fluxes in plant communities: from leaf to canopy / G Wallin
13:00-14:00 / Lab: Non-destructive measurements of chlorophyll (SPAD) and light distribution in leaves/canopies / J Uddling + H Pleijel
14:00-15:00 / Calculation exercise / H Pleijel
15:00-15:30 / Course evaluation / H Pleijel

Rationale

Research in ecophysiology and biogeochemistry is becoming increasingly quantitative. This means that methods to asses fluxes of e.g. radiation, CO2, water vapour, heat, biogenic VOCs and air pollutants (including greenhouse gases) is becoming more important, as well as quantitative characterisation of the state of different (micro)environments with respect to temperature, humidity in air and soil, radiation, wind and concentrations of different compounds. Furthermore, the interception of light in plants/canopies, depending on chlorophyll and other pigments, as well as the magnitude and distribution of leaf area are crucial to understand ecosystem function. There has developed an area of theory and methods called ”envrionmental biophysics”, which covers these issues.

Content and learning outcomes

This course is largely based on the book “An Introduction to Environmental Biophysics” by GS Campbell and JM Norman. In addition, a number of relevant aspects not covered by book are included in the course, such as pedometrics, sap flow, the response of plants to different qualities of light and scaling issues. Also, practical exercise in terms of measurements of temperature and relative humidity (including evaluating the importance of proper radiation protection), leaf temperature, leaf boundary layer conductance and non-destructive chlorophyll measurements (SPAD) will be included. Finally, calculation exercise, based on some of the problems included in the book and further problems prepared by the teachers, is an essential element of the course. Solutions to a number of these problems have to be submitted to pass the course.

After the course the students should:

  • Have a good understanding of the basics of environmental biophysics, including temperatures, wind, heat and mass transport, water and radiation conditions in ecosystems.
  • Be able to use a number of measurement techniques related to environmental biophysics.
  • Be able to solve quantitative problems within the field of environmental biophysics.

If possible, all students should bring laptop computers for the calculations exercise.

Maximum number of participants: 25

Apply for participation no later than 10 April

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Håkan Pleijel