BMTK - A python based box modeling toolkit for teaching Earth System Science

Many earth system processes are described in terms of fluxes, which transfer mass from one reservoir to another. The behavior of such systems is often explored with so-called box-models. While the algorithmic implementation of a box model is straightforward, most undergraduate students' coding ability is too heterogeneous to deploy box models in class routinely. Routine tasks like data I/O and graphical output, further distract from thinking about a specific system. Here I present a python based Box Modeling Toolkit (BMTK), which facilitates rapid box model creation. While some coding experience is advantageous, BMTK requires no specific coding skills. Instead, students will define models in terms of objects like reservoirs, which are connected by fluxes. Fluxes are modified via process objects, which, e.g., set a flux rate as a function of reservoir concentration or impose an isotope fractionation. This approach significantly reduces the entrance barrier to box modeling, allowing a broader cross-section of geo-scientist to get first-hand experience with earth system models. When combined with a hosted Jupyter service (e.g., 2i2c.org), BMTK based assignments can be deployed regardless of class size. This approach also reduces hard and software requirements to having a web-browser with internet connectivity. The BMTK code itself is highly modular, which allows advanced users to extend its capabilities. BMTK is available via Github with a GPL 3 licence.