Here you can find the subject matter and assigned reading for every class day as well as expected homework dates.
Please check back here frequently as the schedule is subject to change.
The class meets every Monday, Wednesday 1:10 - 2:30 PM in ETEC 482.
Much of the course content is accessible from The Climate Laboratory. Note that assigned readings should be completed before class so you are ready to discuss the material.
Table 1:Class schedule
| Date (2025) | Class No. | Topic | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/22 | 0 | Course overview and introductions | Reading: the course syllabus |
| 1/27 | 1 | The Zero-dimensional Energy Balance Model | Reading: Climate models, the global energy budget, and Fun with Python, and Modeling the global energy budget. |
| 1/29 | 2 | Climate Sensitivity and Feedback | Reading: these notes on sensitivty and feedback. See also these more polished notes but we will come back to the single-column Radiative-Convective modeling later. Assignment 1 handed out. |
| 2/3 | 3 | The Climate System and a taxonomy of models | Reading: The climate system and climate models |
| 2/5 | 4 | Introducing the CESM | Reading: Introducing the CESM. Assignment 1 due. |
| 2/10 | 5 | CESM simulations of transient and equilibrium warming | Reading: Examining the transient and equilibrium CO2 response in the CESM Assignment 2 handed out. |
| 2/12 | 6 | Brief review of radiation | Reading: A Brief Review of Radiation |
| 2/17 | 7 | Elementary greenhouse models (pre-recorded lecture) | Reading: Elementary greenhouse models Advanced topic: Solving the two-layer grey gas model analytically with sympy Assignment 3 handed out. |
| 2/19 | 8 | Class canceled, work on homework and reading | Assignment 2 due. |
| 2/24 | 9 | Introduction to climlab | Reading: Building simple climate models using climlab |
| 2/26 | 10 | Radiative Equilibrium | Reading: Radiative Equilibrium Assignment 3 due. |
| 3/3 | 11 | Radiative-Convective Equilibrium | Reading: Radiative-Convective Equilibrium |
| 3/5 | 12 | Stratospheric temperature changes in radiative-convective equilibrium | |
| 3/10 | 13 | Clouds Radiative Effects | Reading: Clouds and cloud feedback |
| 3/12 | 14 | Vertical structure of CO2-driven warming: what’s a lapse rate feedback? | Reading: Unfinished notes on vertical structure of warming |
| 3/17 | - | NO CLASS (spring break) | |
| 3/19 | - | NO CLASS (spring break) | |
| 3/24 | 15 | Lapse rate feedback | Reading: Unfinished notes on vertical structure of warming |
| 3/26 | 16 | Insolation | Reading: Insolation |
| 3/31 | 17 | Orbital variations | Reading: Orbital variations, insolation, and the ice ages |
| 4/2 | 18 | Orbital variations (continued) plus Earth’s radiation budget from CERES | Reading: Orbital variations, insolation, and the ice ages and Earth’s Radiation Budget (excerpt from General Circulation notes) Assignment 4 handed out. |
| 4/7 | 19 | Meridional heat transport | Reading: Heat transport |
| 4/9 | 20 | Decompositions of the meridional heat transport. | Reading: Heat transport decomposition. Assignment 4 due. |
| 4/14 | 21 | Diffusive heat transport parameterization and the 1D EBM | Reading: The one-dimensional energy balance model |
| 4/16 | 22 | Parameter tuning in the EBM and the seasonal cycle of temperature | Reading: Modeling the seasonal cycle of surface temperature |
| 4/21 | 23 | Albedo feedback, polar amplification, and Snowball Earth in the EBM | Reading: Ice albedo feedback in the EBM and Snowball Earth and Large Ice Cap Instability in the EBM |
| 4/23 | 24 | Surface energy budgets, evaporation, and water in the climate system | Reading: The surface energy balance and Water, water everywhere! |
| 4/28 | 25 | Wrap up | |
| 4/30 | 26 | Class presentations, Day 1 | |
| 5/5 | 27 | Class presentations, Day 2 | LAST CLASS |
| 5/9 | - | Final projects due |