Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change

About Course

A Course by University of Chicago

Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change, This class describes the science of global warming and the forecast for humans’ impact on Earth’s climate. Intended for an audience without much scientific background but a healthy sense of curiosity, the class brings together insights and perspectives from physics, chemistry, biology, earth and atmospheric sciences, and even some economics—all based on a foundation of simple mathematics (algebra). A primer on how to use units to describe numbers when describing temperature, energy, and light. Even if you don’t plan on doing calculations yourself, understanding how units work will help to follow the rest of the lectures in the class. If you are interested in practicing your analysis skills, using units to guide calculations, there are some exercises in the Part II of this class. The balance of energy flow, as incoming sunlight and outgoing infrared, allow us to create our first simple climate model, including a simple greenhouse effect. There are two extended exercises in Part II of this class, one an analytical (algebraic) model of the equilibrium temperature of a planet, the other a numerical model of how that temperature might evolve through time.

Course Content

Global Warming I The Science and Modeling of Climate Change

A Message from the Professor
003 01_video-introduction.mp4

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004 02_resources_instructions.html

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005 03_debriefing-quizzes_instructions.html

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006 04_explainer-assignments_instructions.html

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007 05_a-supplemental-class-to-this-one_instructions.html

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010 01_using-units.mp4

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013 02_units-of-energy.mp4

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016 03_heat.mp4

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017 04_optional-problems-how-much-coal-to-run-a-light-bulb_quiz.html

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018 05_optional-problems-comparing-energy-prices_quiz.html

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021 01_units-of-light.mp4

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024 02_light.mp4

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027 03_blackbody-radiation.mp4

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031 01_naked-planet-climate-model.mp4

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034 02_the-greenhouse-effect.mp4

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035 03_optional-layer-model-problem-how-hot-is-the-moon_quiz.html

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036 04_optional-layer-model-problem-2-a-stronger-greenhouse-effect_quiz.html

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037 05_optional-layer-model-problem-3-nuclear-winter_quiz.html

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041 01_greenhouse-gas-physics.mp4

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044 02_the-band-saturation-effect.mp4

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045 03_model-greenhouse-gases-in-the-atmosphere_exam.html

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048 01_atmospheric-temperature-structure.mp4

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049 02_model-the-lapse-rate-and-greenhouse-effect_exam.html

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052 03_pressure-in-a-standing-fluid.mp4

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055 01_water-vapor-and-latent-heat.mp4

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058 02_moist-convection.mp4

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061 01_heat-transport.mp4

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064 02_coriolis-acceleration.mp4

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067 03_geostrophic-motion.mp4

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070 04_the-turbulent-cascade.mp4

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074 01_positive-and-negative-feedback.mp4

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077 02_ice-albedo-feedback.mp4

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078 03_model-sunlight-albedo-and-climate_exam.html

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081 04_water-vapor-feedback.mp4

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082 05_extract-the-water-vapor-feedback-from-climate-model-results_exam.html

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085 06_clouds.mp4

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086 07_model-clouds-1-ir_exam.html

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087 08_model-clouds-2-full-spectrum_exam.html

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090 09_aerosols.mp4

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091 10_model-aerosols-and-climate_exam.html

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094 01_climate-sensitivity.mp4

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095 02_calculate-the-climate-sensitivity_exam.html

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100 01_the-weathering-co2-thermostat.mp4

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103 02_the-goldilocks-planets.mp4

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104 03_model-the-global-carbon-cycle_exam.html

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107 04_the-oceans-in-the-carbon-cycle.mp4

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110 01_the-land-biosphere-in-the-carbon-cycle.mp4

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111 02_model-ocean-land-co2-uptake-with-isam_exam.html

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114 03_the-battery-of-the-biosphere.mp4

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117 04_oxidation-and-reduction-of-carbon.mp4

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118 05_model-intended-vs-greenhouse-yields_exam.html

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121 01_coal.mp4

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124 02_oil.mp4

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127 03_natural-gas.mp4

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131 01_forecasting-future-emissions.mp4

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132 02_model-hubberts-peak_exam.html

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133 03_model-kaya-identity_exam.html

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137 01_where-our-carbon-is-going.mp4

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140 02_ocean-buffer-chemistry.mp4

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143 03_the-perturbed-carbon-cycle.mp4

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146 04_methane-as-a-greenhouse-gas.mp4

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147 05_model-methane-and-slugulator_exam.html

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150 06_the-long-co2-tail.mp4

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153 07_why-the-co2-tail-matters.mp4

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154 08_model-the-long-tail_exam.html

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159 01_land-surface-temperature-records.mp4

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162 02_sea-surface-temperature-records.mp4

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165 03_satellite-temperature-records.mp4

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166 04_make-maps-of-climate-models-warming_exam.html

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169 05_the-smoking-gun-warming-since-the-1970s.mp4

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170 06_look-for-the-smoking-gun_exam.html

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173 01_paleoclimate-and-proxy-measurements.mp4

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174 02_browse-the-global-glacier-length-data_exam.html

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177 03_tree-rings.mp4

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180 04_borehole-temperatures.mp4

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181 05_model-borehole-temperatures_exam.html

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184 06_oxygen-isotopes.mp4

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187 07_solar-intensity-and-the-hockey-stick.mp4

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188 08_analyze-recent-solar-intensity-changes_exam.html

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191 09_glacial-interglacial-cycles.mp4

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196 01_global-weirding.mp4

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199 02_monsoons.mp4

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202 03_vegetation.mp4

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203 04_water-stress-in-climate-model-results_exam.html

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204 05_model-permafrost_exam.html

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207 01_impacts-of-sea-level.mp4

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208 02_model-changes-in-sea-level_exam.html

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211 03_antarctic-ice-sheet.mp4

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214 04_greenland-ice-sheet.mp4

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215 05_play-with-an-ice-sheet-model-ism_exam.html

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218 06_paleo-sea-level-changes.mp4

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219 07_short-vs-long-term-sea-level-change_exam.html

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222 01_water-vapor-and-storminess.mp4

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223 02_find-the-increase-in-low-level-humidity-in-models_exam.html

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226 03_hurricanes.mp4

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227 04_extract-ar5-model-lapse-rates_exam.html

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230 05_extreme-weather.mp4

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231 06_model-hurricanes_exam.html

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234 01_ecosystem-impacts.mp4

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237 02_human-impacts.mp4

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242 01_stabilization-scenarios.mp4

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243 02_model-stabilization-scenarios_exam.html

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246 03_temperature-targets.mp4

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247 04_model-temperature-targets_exam.html

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250 05_slug-theory.mp4

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251 06_how-well-does-slugulator-do-at-slug-theory_exam.html

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254 01_geoengineering-co2-capture-and-sequestration.mp4

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255 02_model-co2-sequestration_exam.html

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258 03_geoengineering-solar-radiation-management.mp4

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259 04_model-srm-geoengineering_exam.html

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262 05_economics-of-climate-change.mp4

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265 06_mitigation-short-term.mp4

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268 07_mitigation-long-term.mp4

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269 08_how-many-wedges_exam.html

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270 09_how-much-carbon-free-energy-by-2100_exam.html

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271 01_quiz-8_exam.html

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links.txt

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About Course

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Course Content

Global Warming I The Science and Modeling of Climate Change

A Message from the Professor

003 01_video-introduction.mp4

004 02_resources_instructions.html

005 03_debriefing-quizzes_instructions.html

006 04_explainer-assignments_instructions.html

007 05_a-supplemental-class-to-this-one_instructions.html

010 01_using-units.mp4

013 02_units-of-energy.mp4

016 03_heat.mp4

017 04_optional-problems-how-much-coal-to-run-a-light-bulb_quiz.html

018 05_optional-problems-comparing-energy-prices_quiz.html

021 01_units-of-light.mp4

024 02_light.mp4

027 03_blackbody-radiation.mp4

031 01_naked-planet-climate-model.mp4

034 02_the-greenhouse-effect.mp4

035 03_optional-layer-model-problem-how-hot-is-the-moon_quiz.html

036 04_optional-layer-model-problem-2-a-stronger-greenhouse-effect_quiz.html

037 05_optional-layer-model-problem-3-nuclear-winter_quiz.html

041 01_greenhouse-gas-physics.mp4

044 02_the-band-saturation-effect.mp4

045 03_model-greenhouse-gases-in-the-atmosphere_exam.html

048 01_atmospheric-temperature-structure.mp4

049 02_model-the-lapse-rate-and-greenhouse-effect_exam.html

052 03_pressure-in-a-standing-fluid.mp4

055 01_water-vapor-and-latent-heat.mp4

058 02_moist-convection.mp4

061 01_heat-transport.mp4

064 02_coriolis-acceleration.mp4

067 03_geostrophic-motion.mp4

070 04_the-turbulent-cascade.mp4

074 01_positive-and-negative-feedback.mp4

077 02_ice-albedo-feedback.mp4

078 03_model-sunlight-albedo-and-climate_exam.html

081 04_water-vapor-feedback.mp4

082 05_extract-the-water-vapor-feedback-from-climate-model-results_exam.html

085 06_clouds.mp4

086 07_model-clouds-1-ir_exam.html

087 08_model-clouds-2-full-spectrum_exam.html

090 09_aerosols.mp4

091 10_model-aerosols-and-climate_exam.html

094 01_climate-sensitivity.mp4

095 02_calculate-the-climate-sensitivity_exam.html

100 01_the-weathering-co2-thermostat.mp4

103 02_the-goldilocks-planets.mp4

104 03_model-the-global-carbon-cycle_exam.html

107 04_the-oceans-in-the-carbon-cycle.mp4

110 01_the-land-biosphere-in-the-carbon-cycle.mp4

111 02_model-ocean-land-co2-uptake-with-isam_exam.html

114 03_the-battery-of-the-biosphere.mp4

117 04_oxidation-and-reduction-of-carbon.mp4

118 05_model-intended-vs-greenhouse-yields_exam.html

121 01_coal.mp4

124 02_oil.mp4

127 03_natural-gas.mp4

131 01_forecasting-future-emissions.mp4

132 02_model-hubberts-peak_exam.html

133 03_model-kaya-identity_exam.html

137 01_where-our-carbon-is-going.mp4

140 02_ocean-buffer-chemistry.mp4

143 03_the-perturbed-carbon-cycle.mp4

146 04_methane-as-a-greenhouse-gas.mp4

147 05_model-methane-and-slugulator_exam.html

150 06_the-long-co2-tail.mp4

153 07_why-the-co2-tail-matters.mp4

154 08_model-the-long-tail_exam.html

159 01_land-surface-temperature-records.mp4

162 02_sea-surface-temperature-records.mp4

165 03_satellite-temperature-records.mp4

166 04_make-maps-of-climate-models-warming_exam.html

169 05_the-smoking-gun-warming-since-the-1970s.mp4

170 06_look-for-the-smoking-gun_exam.html

173 01_paleoclimate-and-proxy-measurements.mp4

174 02_browse-the-global-glacier-length-data_exam.html

177 03_tree-rings.mp4

180 04_borehole-temperatures.mp4