Modeling the climate Chapter 15 Computer models project future climate. Climate models use quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice.

Two Box model Includes surface – atmosphere energy flows Surface Atmosphere = Incident solar energy 2 = sunlight reflected from atmosphere 3 = infrared transmitted through atmosphere to space 4 = infrared emitted by atmosphere to space 5 = Sunlight absorbed by the surface 6 = Sunlight reflected by the surface 7 = convection and evaporation 8 = infrared emitted upward from surface 9 = infrared emitted downward from the atmosphere

One-dimensional model Temperature varies with the altitude. The atmosphere was represented with many boxes. So the one dimensional model accounts for different altitudes.

Two-Dimensional models Two-dimensional model typically accounts for different latitude as well as altitudes. These models can simulate seasonal changes and atmospheric circulations from tropics to poles

Three-dimensional models Three dimensional model have all. They divide earth- atmosphere system into boxes whose position vary with latitude, longitude, and altitude.

General Climate (Circulation) Model- (GCMs) The large-scale models which includes ocean circulation are called GCMs.

Atmosphere -Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM) A model that couples atmosphere and ocean is called AOGCM. These are the largest and most comprehensive climate models

Time-dependent model These model consider flows of energy also advance the model system forward in time. Time dependent model not only project future climate but they also show the path from present to future.