ESM Assignment (summative): Journal paper
Overall task
To carry out a set of simulations (minimum 2 simulations) with the C-cycle version of cGENIE, and to write this up in the scientific style. of a Climate of the Past (or similar Copernicus journal) paper.
Word limit
3000 words. The word limit does NOT include references, figure captions or tables – but DOES include everything else.
100% of Unit – so important!
Deadline
Assignment deadline (submitted via Blackboard): 9 April ).
Marking criteria
The overall mark is a qualitative summary of your ability to:
· Write scientifically in a clear and concise manner
· Design appropriate research questions and conduct simulations to answer them
· Critique/review your own work and that of others
· Analyse and present modelling results clearly
· Interpret results within the context of existing literature
· Understand the implications of your work
What you need to actually do
1) Use a C-cycle version of cGENIE from Session 7 or 8 (and ideas, setups therein) as the starting point – but be creative!
2) Change one or multiple variables in cGENIE (e.g. CO2, emissions rates, nutrient fluxes, remineralisation depth, CO2-climate feedback on or off, etc..!)
3) Run your simulations
4) Analyse your results (using whatever software you prefer)
5) Create relevant figures
6) Write up the journal article to include: abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion/conclusions, references, appendices (optional)
Remember C-cycle simulations take longer so plan and queue accordingly (using the batch system). Also remember that although a minimum of 2 simulations is required, more is not necessarily better – don’t go overboard by trying to do 30 simulations!). If you can make your scientific argument with 2 simulations, then fine. If you feel it takes 4-5, that’s also fine - but probably not many more.
Extra guidance
Important note: The purpose of this assignment is to use the carbon-cycle mode of the model (unlike what you used in the first few sessions of the Unit, which was using the model in physics-only mode and you were therefore looking at physical processes, such as SST, sea ice or streamfunction, only). In contrast, the carbon-cycle mode contains a fully interactive carbon cycle, including both biological and physical components, and therefore contains various aspects of biogeochemistry. This interactive carbon cycle and biogeochemistry need to form. a central part of your assignment. Even if you want to look at a physical process (such as AMOC collapse), this is fine but it must contain aspects of biogeochemistry as a central element of the report (i.e. your research question should focus on this, not just the physical processes).
A really excellent report (e.g. 18+) will include:
· A concise but complete introduction which cites previous work appropriately and clearly articulates the Research Questions which emerge from this review of the current literature.
· A similar level description to that which you might see in a paper e.g. main parameterisations etc. correctly referenced, correct resolution and numerical schemes identified. Citation of previous papers which have used the model.
· A description of the experimental design to a sufficient level of detail that the simulations could be repeated. Sensible experimental design that allows the questions posed to be answered.
· Very clear results, clearly illustrated graphically. Good choice of colour scales etc. Well described.
· An almost complete description of the underlying physical or biogeochemical mechanisms which lead to the simulation results, backed up with figures and sensitivity studies as appropriate.
· A comparison of results with those of previous work
· Very clear conclusions, which are soundly based on the results.
· Clear and original ideas for how the work would be extended.
Common mistakes
· Outline what you are doing and why: this is not a policy report or similar
· No need to outline code/software etc.
· Do make your plots look professional, e.g. use the same colour scales, label properly
· Only describe appropriate parts of the model (i.e. components of cGENIE you are using)
· Properly investigate the mechanisms of the model response you see
· Proper referencing
The report sections should include
Abstract
1) Introduction: An introduction to the area being addressed, including a summary of previous work in the field (i.e. literature review)
2) Methodology: A description of the model and the experimental design
3) Results: A presentation and discussion of the results
4) Discussion/conclusions: overarching conclusions, discussion of possible limitations, and possible future work