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) 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.
2 videos, 6 readings
- 阅读: Scripting and Spreadsheets
- 阅读: Tips for Using Spreadsheets for Numerical Simulation
- 阅读: Tips for Getting Started Coding
- Video: How the Model Works
- 阅读: Model Formulation
- 阅读: How to Solve Using a Spreadsheet
- 阅读: How to Encode into Python or Fortran
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 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".
1 video, 3 readings
- 阅读: Parameterized Relationship Between T, Ice Latitude, and Albedo
- 阅读: Spreadsheet Instructions
- 阅读: Coding Instructions
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
- 阅读: Model Formulation
- 阅读: Spreadsheet Tips
- 阅读: Coding
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
- 阅读: Model Description
- 未分级程序开发: Optional Code Check, Simple Rotation Scheme
- 未分级程序开发: Optional Code Check, Interpolated Rotation
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, 4 readings
- 阅读: Description of the Model Formulation
- 阅读: Tips for Solving in a Spreadsheet
- 阅读: Tips for Encoding
- 阅读: Survey on MOOC technology
Graded: Code Check
Graded: Code Review
Graded: Code Trick: Aerosol Masking and Our Future
FAQs
How It Works
课程作业
每门课程都像是一本互动的教科书，具有预先录制的视频、测验和项目。
来自同学的帮助
与其他成千上万的学生相联系，对想法进行辩论，讨论课程材料，并寻求帮助来掌握概念。
证书
获得正式认证的作业，并与朋友、同事和雇主分享您的成功。
Creators
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.
Ratings and Reviews
A challenging course that gives a basic insight to the world of climate modelling
A great introduction to using python for numerical calculations and graph plotting. Level of course is pitched perfectly for someone with experience of computer programming but new to learning python. The course material is structured very well: the course writer clearly put in a lot of effort to create really interesting exercises which made learning python very engaging. There was a nice mix between the early weeks of the course which offered approachable exercises and later weeks which provided more challenging but very rewarding ones.
Really interesting and a good way to learn Python even if we don't have any experience with programming. Grecommended!
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MM
A very nice course! Thanks to the author(s)! I only find formulation of the problem a bit difficult to follow. At first we see a video of the code commented by the professor, but at that moment we know only vaguely what are the knowns and what the unknowns , so its a bit confusing. I think it would be nice to explicit that somehow and make formulation more fluent. Another thing, for some problems professor says that for Python is computationally hard to handle calculations with a big number of unit cells for example (if I understood well). What is hard for Python of course is to plot a lot of things in real time, for each step. If we plot only some number of iterations, or export results on another way its completely fine for python to do much more complex stuff. I'm sure professor knows this, but for new learners of Python its confusing what he says.