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Modeling Climate Change

Bringing together insights from physics, chemistry, biology, earth and atmospheric sciences -- and even some economics -- this course is geared to curious enthusiasts, allowing them to work with real climate data and simulations of the earth’s changing climate.

This eight-week class takes a quantitative approach to the science of global warming and will enable students to understand the greenhouse effect, the planet's carbon cycle, and how burning fossil fuel affects that cycle; and to evaluate the potential severity of humans’ impact on Earth’s climate.

What you'll learn

Intended for non-specialists, this course starts with basic principles and builds to more complicated, realistic models of the Earth's climate.

This course is no longer available. Find a similar course by searching these:

climate science global warming edx global warming earth's climate climate change

What's inside

Learning objective

Intended for non-specialists, this course starts with basic principles and builds to more complicated, realistic models of the earth's climate.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores theories of climate change, which is standard in relevant fields

Teaches quantitative approaches to climate science, which helps learners analyze data

Develops foundational skills in climate science, which is valuable for those new to the field

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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Modeling Climate Change. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Modeling Climate Change will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Atmospheric Scientist

Atmospheric Scientists study the Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with the planet's surface. They use complex models to predict weather patterns and the impacts of climate change. This course helps Atmospheric Scientists by providing them with a quantitative approach to the science of global warming.

See salaries and explore the career path for Atmospheric Scientist

Oceanographer

Oceanographers study the ocean and its interactions with the atmosphere and the Earth's surface. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to understand how the ocean affects the Earth's climate. This course helps Oceanographers understand the role of the ocean in global warming.

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Meteorologist

Meteorologists study the atmosphere and its interactions with the Earth's surface. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to predict weather patterns and the impacts of climate change. This course helps Meteorologists understand the science of climate change and how to mitigate its impacts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Meteorologist

Climate Policy Analyst

Climate Policy Analysts develop and analyze policies to address climate change. They collect data, conduct research, and write reports to inform policymakers. This course helps Climate Policy Analysts understand the science of climate change and the policy options available to address it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Policy Analyst

Climate Scientist

Climate Scientists study the Earth's climate to design and execute strategies that address global warming. They collect data, process it, and perform statistical analysis to synthesize information. This course helps Climate Scientists understand the greenhouse effect, the planet's carbon cycle, and how burning fossil fuel affects that cycle.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Scientist

Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its interactions with human activities. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to understand how the environment is changing and how to protect it. This course helps Environmental Scientists understand the impacts of climate change on the environment.

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Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers design and implement solutions to environmental problems. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to understand how the environment is changing and how to protect it. This course helps Environmental Engineers understand the science of climate change and how to mitigate its impacts.

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Hydrologist

Hydrologists study the movement and distribution of water on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to understand how water resources are changing and how to protect them. This course helps Hydrologists understand the impacts of climate change on water resources.

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Earth Scientist

Earth Scientists study the processes that shape the Earth. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to understand how the Earth's systems interact. This course helps Earth Scientists synthesize information about the Earth's climate.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists analyze data, interpret results, and provide expert recommendations to businesses seeking to solve problems and create opportunities. This course helps Data Scientists build a foundation for understanding climate data and models.

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Energy Analyst

Energy Analysts study the energy industry and make recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. They collect data, conduct research, and write reports to inform businesses and policymakers. This course helps Energy Analysts understand the science of climate change and the role of energy in mitigating its impacts.

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Conservation Scientist

Conservation Scientists study the natural world and develop strategies to protect it. They collect data, conduct experiments, and create models to understand how ecosystems are changing and how to protect them. This course helps Conservation Scientists understand the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems.

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Environmental Educator

Environmental Educators teach people about the environment and how to protect it. They develop and implement educational programs, conduct workshops, and write articles and books. This course helps Environmental Educators understand the science of climate change and how to communicate it to a variety of audiences.

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Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement strategies to reduce the environmental impact of businesses and organizations. They collect data, conduct audits, and create reports to track progress towards sustainability goals. This course helps Sustainability Managers understand the science of climate change and how to mitigate its impacts.

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Solar Panel Installer

Solar Panel Installers install and maintain solar panels. They assess the needs of customers, design solar panel systems, and install and maintain the systems. This course may be useful for Solar Panel Installers by providing them with a basic understanding of the science of climate change and the role of solar panels in mitigating climate change.

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