About this course: This class provides a series of Python programming exercises intended to explore the use of numerical modeling in the Earth system and climate sciences. The scientific background for these models is presented in a companion class, Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change. This class assumes that you are new to Python programming (and this is indeed a great way to learn Python!), but that you will be able to pick up an elementary knowledge of Python syntax from another class or from on-line tutorials.
Created by: The University of Chicago
Taught by: David Archer, Professor
Geophysical Sciences
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Time-Dependent Energy Balance Model
This class is intended to complement a Coursera class called Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change, which presents much of the background to the material here. In this class you'll be using spreadsheets (maybe) and Python (definitely) t...
2 videos, 6 readings
Graded: Code Check
Graded: Code Review
Graded: Code Tricks: Heat Capacity, Time Steps, and Equilibration Time
WEEK 2
Iterative Runaway Ice-Albedo Feedback Model
The ideas behind this model were explained in Unit 7, Feedbacks, in Part I of this class. First we get to generate simple linear "parameterization" functions of planetary albedo and the latitude to which ice forms (colder = lower latitude ice). Second, for an...
1 video, 3 readings
Graded: Code Check
Graded: Code Review
Graded: Code Trick: Hysteresis Into and Out Of the Snowball
WEEK 3
Ice Sheet Dynamics
Ice flows like extra-thick molasses, downhill. The shape of the ice sheet (altitude versus distance across) is determined by the relationship between ice surface slope and the flow rate of the ice.
1 video, 3 readings
Graded: Code Check
Graded: Code Review
Graded: Code Tricks: Time Steps, Snowfall, and Elevation
WEEK 4
Pressure, Rotation, and Fluid Flow
Planetary rotation and fluid flow were explained in Part I of this class, Unit 6, on Weather and Climate.
1 video, 1 reading
Graded: Code Check
Graded: Code Review
Graded: Code Trick: Geostrophic Flow and a Drifting Rossby Wave
Graded: Code Trick: Gyre Circulation with Westward Intensification
WEEK 5
A Model of Climate Changes Today
Background for this model was presented in Part I of this class, Unit 9, The Perturbed Carbon Cycle.
1 video, 3 readings
Graded: Code Check
Graded: Code Review
Graded: Code Trick: Aerosol Masking and Our Future
FAQs
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Ratings and Reviews
As far as I know, this course is unique: it is the only one that lets you build your knowledge of modeling climate change by building your own models. I'm giving it 4, not 5, as the forums are very quiet. Prof. Archer has done a great job of providing infrastructure so students can focus on the physics. Assessment is a combination of a grader, to check your code in particular cases, peer review, and quizzes that will be easy if you code works. You can probably bluff your way through the quizzes, but it's easier to get your code working and then read off the answers to the questions. Peer reviews also give you a chance to see how other students have solved the problems.
This contains some very interesting and challenging exercises related to "Global Warming I", which are fun to work on. It contains no real instructions about python, and I think it would be better to at least have some guidance there. However, the course info is at least totally up-front with that information.
Although this course is related to "Global Warming II", it is not correlated with it. It would be a mistake to take them concurrently, since GW-II moves much faster, and is a much shorter course. This was not clear to me when I signed up, and it should be made clear to students at the beginning.
I like Prof. Archer a lot, he seems like a good teacher. However, aside from brief introductory lectures (and the selection of great topics for simulation) he plays a rather small role in the course. The student is pretty much on his own. There is no TA or anyone monitoring Discussion questions. There are some places where the "Model Description" notes are incorrect and badly misleading (notably in Week 4). I pointed this out, with others, in the "Discussion Forum", but we got no response and there was no correction. There are other places where information is unclear, but there is no one to turn to for clarification.
Really good course. Short, content-filled lectures and practical application!
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I would love some more excercises, more modeling concepts. A great experience after all!