Earth Data Science - Earth Lab

Earth Analytics Fall 2017

This advanced, multidisciplinary course covers addressing major questions in Earth science using computationally intensive approaches. Students learn analytical tools necessary to undertake exploration of large, spatio-temporal scientific data. The course is geared towards graduate and upper level (junior/ senior) undergraduate students in the natural/social sciences.

All students enrolled in the fall 2017 semester of Earth Analytics can request access to Data Camp! Email the instructor for details!

Example Course Science Topics (Topics subject to change):

• Flooding & Erosion: We will use data from in situ sensor networks including USGS stream gage data and NOAA weather data to better understand flood event drivers and impacts.
• Fire: We will use light detection and ranging (lidar) and spectral remote sensing data combined with on the ground field measurements to better understand the drivers and impacts of wildfires.
• Climate & Society: Social media and web as a powerful means to understand climate impacts.

Throughout the semester, we will build the following skills:

• Scientific programming: Use the R / R-studio environment to access, process & visualize scientific data.
• Data Integration: understand issues associated with integration data from various sources (scale, resolution, format)
• Find / access scientific data: Programmatic (API) access of data (NASA, USGS, etc.) via API’s.
• Communication/Collaboration: refine cross- discipline collaborative writing and project development skills.
• Efficient data approaches: write modular, expressive code.

Semester Project

All students will select a topic for and use skills learned in the course to work collaboratively on an end of the semester project.