Climate Modeling

Welcome to an introduction to Climate Modeling! Below you will find an overview of different types of climate models as well as there uses. Climate models are well known for their usefulness in weather forecasting, but with recent technology changes and the evolution of our world, climate models are now being used to help predict the effects of global warming.

Types of Models

•Atmosphere General Circulation Model (AGCM)
  • Similar to the models that weatherman use for weather forecasting 

These models show high and low pressure zones similar to that of weather maps.

 

Ocean general circulation models (OGCMs)

  • Three-dimensional representation of the ocean and sea ice
  • •Good for study of ocean circulation and variability

This type of model shows temperature changes and circulation patterns throughout a calendar year.

Carbon Cycle Models
  • •Green indicates Chlorophyll
  • Chlorophyll indicates healthy vegetation
  • Healthy vegetation is a good measure of how much Carbon Dioxide is being absorbed

As the seasons change across the world, there are changes in the chlorophyll levels which shows the absorption of CO2. This type of model can show how the Earth "breaths" during each season.

Atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs)

These models combine all aspects of models. They combine data to show changes in temperature and circulation in the ocean as well as on land. These models are very complex.

 

 

WHY ARE CLIMATE MODELS IMPORTANT?

    Climate Models Are Used To Predict Temperature Increases

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Temperature Increase 2000 to 2100 (°C)
Model
Total
Land
Ocean
CCSR/NIES
4.7
7.0
3.8
CCCma
4.0
5.0
3.6
CSIRO
3.8
4.9
3.4
Hadley Centre
3.7
5.5
3.0
GFDL
3.3
4.2
3.0
MPI-M
3.0
4.6
2.4
NCAR PCM
2.3
3.1
2.0
NCAR CSM
2.2
2.7
2.0

 

Both of the above models show predictions based on climate models. They represent what could happen to the world if we continue on our common trends of green house gas emission.

REAL LIFE CLIMATE MODEL PREDICTOR

  • Climate Prediction .net is a website where you can download and run a climate model on your home computer. The data produced from your model is used to create the world's largest climate prediction model.

Link to climateprediction.net

 

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