David Archer

Offered By

Global Warming II: Create Your Own Models in Python

The University of Chicago

About this Course

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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.

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Approx. 32 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

David Archer

Professor

Geophysical Sciences

43,328 Learners

2 Courses

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Approx. 32 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Offered by

The University of Chicago

One of the world's premier academic and research institutions, the University of Chicago has driven new ways of thinking since our 1890 founding. Today, UChicago is an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to our Hyde Park and international campuses, keeping UChicago at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

6 hours to complete

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) to do some simple numerical calculations on topics in Earth System Science. The model you'll be working on this week is based on material from Unit 3 of that class, called First Climate Model.

6 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 7 min), 6 readings, 3 quizzes

2 videos

Welcome3m

How the Model Works3m

6 readings

Scripting and Spreadsheets10m

Tips for Using Spreadsheets for Numerical Simulation10m

Tips for Getting Started Coding10m

Model Formulation10m

How to Solve Using a Spreadsheet10m

How to Encode into Python or Fortran10m

1 practice exercise

Code Tricks: Heat Capacity, Time Steps, and Equilibration Time30m

Week

Week 2

5 hours to complete

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 any given value of the solar constant, L, we'll use iteration to find consistent values of albedo and T, to show the effect of the ice albedo feedback on Earth's temperature, running away to fall into the dreaded "snowball Earth".

5 hours to complete

1 video (Total 5 min), 3 readings, 3 quizzes

1 video

How the Model Works4m

3 readings

Parameterized Relationship Between T, Ice Latitude, and Albedo10m

Spreadsheet Instructions10m

Coding Instructions10m

1 practice exercise

Code Trick: Hysteresis Into and Out Of the Snowball30m

Week

Week 3

5 hours to complete

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.

5 hours to complete

1 video (Total 5 min), 3 readings, 3 quizzes

1 video

How the Model Works4m

3 readings

Model Formulation10m

Spreadsheet Tips10m

Coding10m

1 practice exercise

Code Tricks: Time Steps, Snowfall, and Elevation30m

Week

Week 4

11 hours to complete

Pressure, Rotation, and Fluid Flow

Planetary rotation and fluid flow were explained in Part I of this class, Unit 6, on Weather and Climate.

11 hours to complete

1 video (Total 7 min), 1 reading, 6 quizzes

1 video

How the Model Works6m

1 reading

Model Description10m

2 practice exercises

Code Trick: Geostrophic Flow and a Drifting Rossby Wave30m

Code Trick: Gyre Circulation with Westward Intensification30m

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Global Warming II: Create Your Own Models in Python

Global Warming II: Create Your Own Models in Python