Global Warming II: Create Your Own Models in Python

Instructor: David Archer

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

57 reviews

4 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

57 reviews

4 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

6 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in 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.

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.

What's included

2 videos6 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment1 peer review

2 videosTotal 7 minutes

Welcome4 minutes
How the Model Works3 minutes

6 readingsTotal 60 minutes

Scripting and Spreadsheets10 minutes
Tips for Using Spreadsheets for Numerical Simulation10 minutes
Tips for Getting Started Coding10 minutes
Model Formulation10 minutes
How to Solve Using a Spreadsheet10 minutes
How to Encode into Python or Fortran10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Code Tricks: Heat Capacity, Time Steps, and Equilibration Time30 minutes

1 programming assignmentTotal 180 minutes

Code Check180 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Code Review120 minutes

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".

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment1 peer review

1 videoTotal 5 minutes

How the Model Works5 minutes

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Parameterized Relationship Between T, Ice Latitude, and Albedo10 minutes
Spreadsheet Instructions10 minutes
Coding Instructions10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Code Trick: Hysteresis Into and Out Of the Snowball30 minutes

1 programming assignmentTotal 180 minutes

Code Check180 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Code Review60 minutes

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.

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment1 peer review

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

What's included

1 video1 reading2 assignments3 programming assignments1 peer review

1 videoTotal 7 minutes

How the Model Works7 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Model Description10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Code Trick: Geostrophic Flow and a Drifting Rossby Wave30 minutes
Code Trick: Gyre Circulation with Westward Intensification30 minutes

3 programming assignmentsTotal 540 minutes

Code Check180 minutes
Optional Code Check, Simple Rotation Scheme180 minutes
Optional Code Check, Interpolated Rotation 180 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Code Review120 minutes

Background for this model was presented in Part I of this class, Unit 9, The Perturbed Carbon Cycle.

What's included

1 video4 readings1 assignment1 programming assignment1 peer review

1 videoTotal 5 minutes

How the Model Works5 minutes

4 readingsTotal 40 minutes

Description of the Model Formulation10 minutes
Tips for Solving in a Spreadsheet10 minutes
Tips for Encoding10 minutes
Survey on MOOC technology10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Code Trick: Aerosol Masking and Our Future30 minutes

1 programming assignmentTotal 180 minutes

Code Check180 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 60 minutes

Code Review60 minutes

Instructor

David Archer

The University of Chicago

2 Courses76,493 learners

Offered by

The University of Chicago

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Reviewed on Jun 18, 2016

Really good course. Short, content-filled lectures and practical application!

Reviewed on Feb 15, 2017

I would love some more excercises, more modeling concepts. A great experience after all!

Reviewed on Apr 13, 2020

Great course for those who want to learn a little more about modelling, python and the climate!

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