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

Tools you'll learn

NumPy

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 videos Total 7 minutes

Welcome 4 minutes
How the Model Works 3 minutes

6 readings Total 60 minutes

Scripting and Spreadsheets 10 minutes
Tips for Using Spreadsheets for Numerical Simulation 10 minutes
Tips for Getting Started Coding 10 minutes
Model Formulation 10 minutes
How to Solve Using a Spreadsheet 10 minutes
How to Encode into Python or Fortran 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Code Tricks: Heat Capacity, Time Steps, and Equilibration Time 30 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 180 minutes

Code Check 180 minutes

1 peer review Total 120 minutes

Code Review 120 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 video Total 5 minutes

How the Model Works 5 minutes

3 readings Total 30 minutes

Parameterized Relationship Between T, Ice Latitude, and Albedo 10 minutes
Spreadsheet Instructions 10 minutes
Coding Instructions 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Code Trick: Hysteresis Into and Out Of the Snowball 30 minutes

1 programming assignment Total 180 minutes

Code Check 180 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Code Review 60 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.