Schedule
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.
The reading schedule has been delayed to accommodate students who didn't get a copy of the textbook until the second week of class.
| Date | Lecture topic | Reading | Homework | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/23/2018 | Introduction, syllabus and 'What is a climate model?' | |||
| 01/25/2018 | Planetary energy budget and the zero-dimensional energy balance model | |||
| 01/30/2018 | Numerical time-stepping the EBM, and plotting with matplotlib |
Assignment 1 out | ||
| 02/01/2018 | The climate system and climate models | 1.1 - 1.5 | ||
| 02/06/2018 | The climate system and climate models, continued | 2.1, 2.2 | ||
| 02/08/2018 | Introducing the GCM | 2.3, 2.4 | Assignment 1 due | |
| 02/13/2018 | The xarray package and working with the GCM data |
2.5, 2.6 | ||
| 02/15/2018 | Exercises with the slab ocean GCM output | 3.1, 3.2 | Assignment 2 out | |
| 02/20/2018 | Building simple climate models with climlab |
3.3 | ||
| 02/22/2018 | Physics of radiation | 3.4 | Assignment 2 due | |
| 02/27/2018 | Elementary greenhouse models | 3.5 | ||
| 03/01/2018 | Single-column models in climlab |
3.6 - 3.8 | ||
| 03/06/2018 | Midterm exam | |||
| 03/08/2018 | Radiative and Radiative-Convective equilibrium | |||
| 03/13/2018 | no class | Spring break | ||
| 03/15/2018 | no class | Spring break | ||
| 03/20/2018 | Radiative forcing, feedback and climate sensitivity | 4.1 - 4.3 | ||
| 03/22/2018 | Clouds and climate | 4.4 | ||
| 03/27/2018 | Transient warming, ocean heat uptake and committed warming | 4.5 | Assignment 3 out | |
| 03/29/2018 | Solar radiation and seasons | 4.6 | ||
| 04/03/2018 | Orbital variations, insolation and the ice ages | 4.7, 4.8 | Assignment 3 due | |
| 04/05/2018 | Exercises on orbital calculations | 5.1, 5.2 | ||
| 04/10/2018 | Poleward heat transport: observations and parameterizations | 5.3 | ||
| 04/12/2018 | The 1D diffusive Energy Balance Model | 5.4.1-3 | ||
| 04/17/2018 | Albedo feedback in the EBM | 5.4.4-6 | ||
| 04/19/2018 | Snowball Earth | 5.5, 5.6 | ||
| 04/24/2018 | Comprehensive models and their skill: CMIP5 | 5.7 | ||
| 04/26/2018 | Climate projections in CMIP5 | 6.1 - 6.3 | ||
| 05/01/2018 | Summary and review | 6.4 - 6.6 | ||
| 05/03/2018 | Project presentations | |||
| 05/08/2018 | Project presentations | Final project due |