Course Syllabus/Fall 2014

120:26:590 Introduction into Environmental

Biophysics
INSTRUCTORS:
OFFICE/OFFICE
HOURS:
COURSE
LOCATION(S):

Karina Schafer

EMAIL:

karinavr@andromeda.rutgers.edu

Boyden Hall 410, Wed 2-4PM

COURSE
WEBSITE:

Blackboard

MEETING TIME(S):WED 6:00-9:00 PM

Boyden Hall 421

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

In this course, fundamental fluid mechanics in terrestrial ecosystems will be taught. Fluid encompasses
all gaseous and liquid media, and their mechanics are transport phenomena, conductivity of surfaces,
and their physical properties. Through mechanistic models, data handling, and simulation, students will
quantitatively and qualitatively assess transport processes such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water
(H2O) in the atmosphere, biosphere, and in soil in terrestrial ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and
urban areas.
PREREQUISITES:

NPR
REQUIRED TEXT:

An introduction to Environmental Biophysics by Gaylon S. Campbell and John M, Norman, Springer

Verlag 2000 2nd Edition, New York (abbreviated C & N in syllabus)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/GOALS:

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

be able to build complex statistical / mechanistic computational models to simulate transport

processes in the atmosphere and in terrestrial ecosystems;

make inferences as to the impact the transport, e.g., of pollutants may have on forest or urban areas;
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have a set of tools that enable analysis of data, critically evaluate research findings and making
inferences of data either in literature or collected in the field

have acquired the computational and critical evaluation skills necessary to work in scientific
research

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Course Syllabus/Fall 2014

120:26:590 Introduction into Environmental

Biophysics
SCHEDULE AND COURSE OUTLINE: Dates listed by week; lectures will meet twice every week and recitation will meet every
week, unless otherwise noted. Weekly dates of quizzes and due dates for written projects are listed, but please note there
will be additional smaller assignments throughout the semester. Due dates for these assignments will be regularly updated
on the course Blackboard site.
WEEK
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

Week 6

Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13

NOTES/READING
ASSIGNMENTS/EXAMS

MEETING TOPIC
Introduction of people, intro into the field of
environmental biophysics, team assignment
Temperature air, soil, thermal time models,
introduction to matlab
Water vapor and other gases gas concentration,
spatial and temporal variations
Field trip to the Meadowlands

chapter 1 in C & N

Liquid water in organisms and their environment

water potential and gradient, relations liquid and gas
phase
Wind characteristics, atmospheric turbulence, wind
speed, zero plane displacement and roughness
length, convection, conductance, convection,
characteristic dimension, HW 1 due
Heat and mass transport flux, transport equations,
resistance, conductance (parallel and in series)
Conductance for heat and mass transfer diffusion,
turbulent transport, fetch and buoyancy, atmospheric
surface layer
Heat flow in soil flow, storage, thermal properties

chapter 4 in C & N, bb

Water flow in soil conductivity, infiltration,

evaporation, transpiration, hydrologic balance, HW 2
due
Radiation basics definitions, cosine law, attenuation,
spectral distribution, emittance, radiation in canopies
Light environment of plant communities, canopy
photosynthesis, leaf energy budget, canopy
transpiration
Thanksgiving recess

chapter 9 in C & N, start project

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chapter 2 in C & N, bb, HW 1

chapter 3 in C & N, bb

chapter 5 and 7 in C & N, bb

chapter 6 in C & N, bb
chapter 7 in C & N, HW 2, bb

chapter 8 in C & N, bb

chapter 10 and 11 in C & N, bb

chapter 14 and 15 in C & N, bb

Week 14
Week 15

Presentation of projects, projects due

Presentation of projects

self evaluation and team evaluation

due

DATE OF FINAL EXAM: N/A

Note bb posted on Blackboard under course documents
GRADING POLICY:
Your grade for this course will be determined based on the categories listed in the table below.
Attendance/Participation

20

Quizzes/Exams

Point Values

Homework (2)

60

Project (1)

25

Self-evaluation
Team evaluation

10
15

TOTAL

100

ATTENDANCE, MAKE-UP, AND LATENESS POLICY:

Attendance Policy Statement (200 Characters) If you must miss class for a valid reason, please discuss making up the missed
material with your instructor as soon as possible. Late Assignment Policy Statement (200 Characters) Homeworks and
projects have a minimum of two weeks time for completion, thus an extension will not be granted and failure to hand them
in on time results in 0 points.

Academic Dishonesty: The course has a zero tolerance policy for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating.
Instances of dishonesty will be punished by a zero on the assignment and consultation with the Academic Integrity Officers
to determine if further action is required. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, please
ask your instructors or refer to the academic integrity websites for Rutgers and NJIT:

http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers
http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu/
http://www.njit.edu/academics/integrity.php

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