The Physics of Climate, and our Natural Experiments

Submitted by Nicholas D. Holschuh on Wednesday, 3/9/2022, at 8:38 PM

Geology 331 is designed to give students the tools they need to analyze climate data and climate models, and involves extensive skill-building in Python. The class is built around analyzing model output from CMIP-6 (the climate model intercomparison exercise). We deconstruct the dynamics of the atmosphere and ocean through physics first principles, and then look back through Earth history to see how natural perturbations to atmospheric chemistry, planetary albedo, solar insolation, and the configuration of the continents have resulted to changes in Earth's climate. 

At the end of the semester, students are encouraged to explore the climate model forecasts and existing climate scholarship for a region they care about. Below are the outcomes of those student projects.

 

Climate Model Forecasts, from Geol331 students from 2021