EAE4027 Climate models: what are they good for?
Faculty of Science
EAE4027 Climate models: what are they good for? is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate and postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 12 hours
- per semester
The 2027 handbook has no page for EAE4027. This is its 2026 entry, the latest one.
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Requisites
Before EAE4027
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EAE4027
No unit lists EAE4027 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PROHIBITION: EAE5027
PREREQUISITE: Enrolment in the Master of Science in Atmospheric Science or permission from the coordinator.
Overview
Climate models are used to make predictions, for example, of the season ahead, and projections for the century ahead. They are also the main tool for understanding how the climate may change in the future. Their projected outcomes are used in many different applications, from water security to bushfire and other hazard preparedness and to international policy decisions. This unit will start with an overview of the physical basis of climate models and how their different components interact. An understanding of different types of experiments and configurations of these models will then be developed and how these are applied for various uses. Our confidence and uncertainty in their results and how these inform decision-making will be discussed. The unit will include hands-on experience in using climate models.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Assignment 1Written30%
- Assignment 2Written30%
- Examination (2 hours and 10 minutes)Examination40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Identify the various components of climate models and understand how they are coupled together;
- 2
Describe the major interactions between the components of the climate system;
- 3
Understand the difference between predictions and projections and how they are evaluated;
- 4
Explain how confidence and uncertainty in model results is assessed.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities24 hours
- Lectures24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
A total of 12 hours per week comprising:
- Two 1-hour lectures;
- One 2-hour practical session;
- Two hours of assignments, reports and preparation of a talk and
- 6 hours of independent study per week
Hands-on experience using climate models will be achieved through examples and interactive computational sessions
You will source recent literature, write a report and give a presentation
Learning resources
Required resources
Recent peer-reviewed articles sourced through library-accessed databases such as Web of Science
Technology resources
Climate model output sourced online or via the National Computing Infrastructure facility
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Julie Arblaster
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Julie Arblaster
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EAE4027?
EAE4027 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is EAE4027 offered?
In 2026, EAE4027 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is EAE4027?
The handbook expects about 12 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EAE4027 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.