Mathematical modeling and simulation of climate and climatic change.

M. E. Schlesinger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Mathematical climate models were developed as tools to integrate and test the knowledge of the Earth's climatic system as obtained from observations and theoretical hypotheses. Three types of climate models are described: (1) the energy balance model (EEM); (2) the radiantive convective model (RCM); and (3) the general circulation model (GCM). The design, evaluation and application of atmospheric and oceanic GCMs is presented in some detail. The evaluation and calibration of such models is illustrated by a simulation of the present climate by the Oregon State University (OSU) atmospheric GCM. It is shown that this model simulates contemporary climate with some fidelity but not without error. The application of mathematical climate models to quantitatively assess climate change hypotheses is illustrated by a simulation of CO2 induced climatic change with the OSU atmospheric GCM coupled with a simple ocean sea ice model. This and other simulations suggests that mathematical climate models can be usefully applied to increase the understanding of climate and climatic change. - from STAR, 23(17), 1985

Original languageEnglish (US)
Journal[No source information available]
StatePublished - 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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