Basics of Climate Modeling Course | IIT Hyderabad | Prof. Asif Qureshi
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 242 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Civil Engineering, Environment |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 16 Feb 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 27 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Demystifying the Future: A Guide to the Basics of Climate Modeling
Climate change is one of the most defining challenges of our time. While headlines often focus on the impacts—rising seas, extreme weather, biodiversity loss—the sophisticated science that projects these futures remains a mystery to many. How do scientists predict the climate of tomorrow? The answer lies in climate models.
This article outlines a comprehensive 8-week course, "Basics of Climate Modeling," designed and instructed by Prof. Asif Qureshi of IIT Hyderabad. This course serves as a crucial bridge, translating awareness of climate change into a concrete understanding of the scientific principles and computational tools used to simulate our planet's complex systems.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Asif Qureshi
Leading this intellectual journey is Prof. Asif Qureshi, a distinguished professor at IIT Hyderabad with joint affiliations in the Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Climate Change. His academic pedigree is exceptional:
- D.Sc. in Environmental Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich.
- Master’s in Environmental Engineering from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
- B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur.
Prof. Qureshi's research focuses on environmental pollution, health impacts, and using scientific methods to inform policy. His expertise ensures the course is grounded in both fundamental science and real-world application.
Course Overview: Who Is This For?
This is a postgraduate-level course spanning 8 weeks. It is meticulously structured to build knowledge from the ground up.
Intended Audience:
- Postgraduate (PG) and senior undergraduate (UG) students.
- Working professionals in climate change, sustainability, and environmental sectors.
- Junior scientists and engineers from institutions like pollution control boards and climate missions.
Prerequisites: A foundational understanding of basic physics, chemistry, and mathematics (at the class 10-12 level) is required to fully engage with the material.
Week-by-Week Course Layout: Your Learning Pathway
The course is a progressive journey from observing the climate system to understanding the tools that simulate it.
| Week | Core Topics |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Climate trends from Earth observations; Components of the climate system (atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, land surface). |
| Week 2 | Radiation balance; A simple greenhouse model of Earth; Radiative forcings; Radiative-convective framework. |
| Week 3 | Climate sensitivity; Key climate feedbacks: ice-albedo, water vapor, clouds, and lapse rate. |
| Week 4 | The hydrological cycle; The carbon cycle and its reservoirs; Non-CO2 greenhouse gases and their cycles. |
| Week 5 | Introduction to types of climate models: Energy Balance Models (EBMs), Models of Intermediate Complexity (EMICs), General Circulation Models (GCMs). Study of seminal EBM papers by Budyko (1969) and Sellers (1969). |
| Week 6 | The critical role of oceans in regulating climate; Early coupled atmosphere-ocean models. Analysis of key papers by Wigley & Schlesinger (1985) and Harvey & Schneider (1985). |
| Week 7 | Describing the transport of energy and matter in models; The concept of parameterization for sub-grid-scale processes. |
| Week 8 | Introduction to numerical methods used in climate models; A primer on the structure and components of complex modern models. |
Essential Reading Materials
To complement the lectures, the course references key textbooks that are pillars in the field:
- Stocker, T. (2011). Introduction to Climate Modeling. Springer. A concise and accessible entry point.
- Drake, J.B. (2013). Climate Modeling for Scientists and Engineers. SIAM. Focuses on the practical computational aspects.
- Goosse, H. et al. (2010). Introduction to Climate Dynamics and Climate Modeling. A comprehensive and freely available online textbook at climate.be/textbook.
Why Study the Basics of Climate Modeling?
In an era of information overload and misinformation, understanding the "how" behind climate predictions is empowering. This course does not just present conclusions; it reveals the engine of climate science. You will learn to interpret model results critically, understand their uncertainties, and appreciate the monumental scientific effort behind every IPCC report.
Whether you aim to advance in academia, enhance your professional expertise, or simply become a more informed global citizen, grasping the basics of climate modeling is an invaluable investment. It transforms climate change from an abstract threat into a tangible, analyzable system—the first step toward developing effective solutions for our planet's future.
Enroll Now →