This schedule shows the subject matter and assigned reading for every class day, along with expected homework dates. Please check back here frequently as the schedule is subject to change.

Note, the numbers under Reading refer to sections in the Climate Modelling Primer 4th ed. unless otherwise stated.

Readings must be completed before class on the day indicated.

Date Lecture topic Reading Homework Notes
01/21/2016 Introduction, syllabus and 'What is a climate model?'
01/26/2016 The planetary energy budget, and Fun with Python 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
01/28/2016 The Zero-dimensional energy balance model and numerical time-stepping 1.4, 1.5 Assignment 1 out
02/02/2016 Components of the climate system 2.1
02/04/2016 A history and taxonomy of climate models 2.2, 2.3
02/09/2016 Feedback and climate sensitivity 2.4 Assignment 1 due
02/11/2016 Exercises on feedback and climate sensitivity 2.5, 2.6 Assignment 2 out
02/16/2016 Solar radiation 3.1, 3.2
02/18/2016 Orbital variations, insolation and the ice ages 3.3 Assignment 2 due
02/23/2016 The Jupyter notebook format, and orbital calculations with climlab 3.4 Assignment 3 out
02/25/2016 Orbital calculations, continued 3.5
03/01/2016 Poleward heat transport: observations and parameterization 3.6
03/03/2016 The 1D diffusive Energy Balance Model 3.7, 3.8 Assignment 3 due
03/08/2016 Albedo feedback in the EBM Assignment 4 out
03/10/2016 Midterm exam
03/15/2016 NO CLASS (Spring Break)
03/17/2016 NO CLASS (Spring Break)
03/22/2016 Blackbody radiation and the greenhouse effect 4.1, 4.2
03/24/2016 Two-level leaky greenhouse model 4.3 Assignment 4 due
03/29/2016 Lapse rate and convective adjustment 4.4
03/31/2016 Radiative-convective equilibrium (RCE) 4.5
04/05/2016 Ozone and water vapor in RCE 4.6 Assignment 5 out
04/07/2016 Working with gridded data in the NetCDF format 4.7, 4.8
04/12/2016 Transient climate change, ocean heat uptake and committed warming 5.1, 5.2
04/14/2016 Intro to GCMs 5.3 Assignment 5 due
04/19/2016 Planetary energy budget in the CESM 5.4.1 - 5.4.3
04/21/2016 Cloud radiative effect and climate sensitity in the CESM 5.4.4 - 5.4.6 Final project proposal due
04/26/2016 Comprehensive models and their skill: CMIP5 5.5, 5.6
04/28/2016 Climate projections in CMIP5 5.7
05/03/2016 Summary and review Chapter 6 Final project due
05/12/2016 Final exam 1:00pm - 3:00pm in ES 328 University exam schedule