Afternoon discussion:
Mathematics, Computer Science and Climate Research

Programme

Abstracts of presentations

List of participants

Programme:

13:30-13:45	Introduction by chairman of the Climate Variability programme committee, Gerrit Burgers (KNMI)
13:45-14:15	Mathematical and Computational Challenges in Climate Dynamics, Henk Dijkstra (Colorado State University, USA)
14:25-14:55	Transient dynamics, multiple scales and geometric integration, Jan Verwer (Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica - CWI)
15:05-15:30	Coffee break
15:30-16.30	Discussion forum, lead by Will de Ruijter (Utrecht University – Institute for Marine and Atmospheric research - IMAU)
16:30-17:30	Drinks

 Naar boven

 Abstracts of presentations:

Mathematical and Computational Challenges in Climate Dynamics

Henk Dijkstra, Colorado State University, USA

In this presentation I will give a personal view on how (i) modern mathematical and computational techniques can contribute to solve (so far) open problems in climate dynamics, (ii) what aspects of work need future focus and (iii) which type of collaboration between mathematicians and geoscientists may lead to breakthroughs. To illustrate ideas, I will restrict to two example problems in climate variability. First, the problem of the Dansgaard-Oeschger oscillations (which occurred during the last Ice Age) is addressed. Indications for this variability solely come from proxy data (e.g., ice cores). Multidecadal variability in the North Atlantic sea-surface temperature, (the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation), as found in the instrumental record, is the topic of the second example problem. After a brief introduction into these problems, I will shortly discuss the different aspects of climate research, i.e., data gathering, data analysis, numerical modeling, theory development and prediction. Several essentia l problems within each of these aspects will next be identified and future collaborative (mathematics and geosciences) work required to solve them will be outlined.

Transient dynamics, multiple scales and geometric integration

Jan Verwer, CWI and UvA

The dynamics of the earth's climate exhibits a rich diversity of interacting spatial and temporal scales and mechanisms. Physically meaningful mathematical models will take these interacting scales and mechanisms into account. However, the numerical computation of physically meaningful solutions is difficult and challenging since they must be provided at climatic space and time scales and should allow statistical analysis of the phenomena under consideration. This requires that physically important coherent structures and scales are to be retained under discretization. Structure preserving discretization is an active research field in numerical analysis of differential equations where it is commonly called geometric numerical integration. It is believed that this field is promising to further advanced climate modelling. The aim of the lecture is to outline some first principles of geometric numerical integration and to mention some first results relevant to climate modelling. As a follow up and as input fo r the discussion the lecture will be concluded with a few general remarks and suggestions to attempt to arrive at long lasting and fruitful national cooperation between climate researchers and applied and numerical mathematicians.

Naar boven

List of participants:

1. Henk Dijkstra, Colorado State University
2. Jason Frank, CWI
3. Arjen Doelman CWI
4. Michiel Hazewinkel CWI
5. Jan Verwer,  CWI / UU
6. Jan Barkmeijer, KNMI Climate Variability section
7. Gerrit Burgers, KNMI
8. Ruben Pasmanter, KNMI afd. VO (variabiliteit ondrzoek)
9. Leo Maas, NIOZ
10. Guido Terra, NIOZ / UU 
11. Sjef Zimmerman, NIOZ / UU
12. Hedi Poot, NWO EW
13. Marianne Walgreen, NWO ALW
14. Hans de Boois, NWO ALW 
15. Patrick Aerts, NWO NCF
16. Peter Michielse NWO NCF 
17. Ferd Sauter, RIVM Milieu- en Natuurplanbureau - Luchtkwaliteit en Europese Duurzaamheid
18. Kurt Lust,  RUG Institute for Mathematics and Computing Science
19. Fred Wubs,  RUG Department of Mathematics
20. Jos de Laat, SRON
21. Tycho van Noorden, TUE Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
22. Lex Wolters, UL Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS)
23. Luca Ferracina, UL Mathematical Institute
24. Sjoerd Verduyn Lunel, UL Mathematisch Instituut - LIASC
25. Ruud van Damme, UT Faculty of Electric Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science - Dept of Mathematics
26. Joris van den Berg, UT EWI NACM
27. Theo Opsteegh, UU Faculteit Natuur- en Sterrenkunde - IMAU
28. Aarnout van Delden, UU Faculteit Natuur- en Sterrenkunde - IMAU
29. Peter Jan van Leeuwen, UU Faculteit Natuur- en Sterrenkunde - IMAU
30. Will de Ruijter, UU Faculteit Natuur- en Sterrenkunde - IMAU
31. Aad van der Steen, UU High Performance Computing Group
32. Anna von der Heydt, UU Faculteit Natuur- en Sterrenkunde - IMAU
33. Henry Hooghiemstra, UvA Instituut voor Biodiversiteit en Ecosysteem Dynamica
34. Christiaan van der Tol, VUA Dept. of Hydrology and Geo-Environmental Sciences
35. Margriet Groenendijk, VUA Dept. of Hydrology and Geo-Environmental Sciences
36. Michiel van der Molen, VUA Dept. of Hydrology and GeoEnvironmental Sciences
37. Peter M. van Bodegom, VUA Faculteit der Aard- en Levenswetenschappen - Dep. of Systems Ecology
38. Ko van Huissteden VUA Faculteit der Aard- en Levenswetenschappen - Dep. of Hydrology and Geo-Environmental Sciences
39. Rien Aerts, VUA Faculteit der Aard- en Levenswetenschappen - Dep. of Systems Ecology
40. Menno Genseberger, WL | Delft Hydraulics