A reading titled ‘Simple Models of Climate Change’ by Spencer Weart hosted on the website of Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics. This reading is a supplement to Spencer Weart’s book titled, ‘The Discovery of Global Warming’. This reading provides a history of climate change models from 1950 and how they evolved over time.
Students will learn about various topics in physics and earth sciences such as the greenhouse effect, atmospheric radiation, heat transfer, and general atmospheric circulation models. They will also learn how some ideas – correct and incorrect, about climate sciences were theorised and evolved with time.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- When was the first climate change model theorised?
- What were some of the misconceptions about climate change in the mid-20th century?
- What ideas and methods about climate change from the past have carried on into current climate change models?
About the Tool
Tool Name | Simple Models of Climate Change |
Discipline | Physics, Earth Sciences |
Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Physics, Climate Models, Atmospheric Circulation, Heath Transfer, Radiation, Chaos Theory |
Climate Topic | Planetary Climate; Planetary Energy Balance |
Type of tool | Reading |
Grade Level | Highschool, Undergraduate |
Location | Global |
Language | English |
Translation | |
Developed by | Spencer Weart |
Hosted at | Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics |
Link | Link |
Access | Online/ Offline |
Computer Skills | Basic |