Climate model

Climate models use quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. They are used for a variety of purposes from study of the dynamics of the weather and climate system to projections of future climate.

Related Topics:
Atmosphere - Ocean

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The most talked-about models of recent years have been those relating air temperature to emissions of carbon dioxide (see greenhouse gas). These models predict an upward trend in the surface temperature record, as well as a more rapid increase in temperature at higher altitudes.

Related Topics:
Carbon dioxide - Greenhouse gas - Surface temperature record

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Models can range from relatively simple to quite complex:

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• Simple back-of-the-envelope calculations of the radiative temperature treat the earth as a single point
• this can be expanded vertically (radiative-convective models), or horizontally (energy balance models)
• finally, (coupled) atmosphere–ocean–sea ice global climate models discretise and solve the full equations for fluid motion.

This is not a full list; for example "box models" can be written to treat flows across and within ocean basins.

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Climate model: Zero-dimensional models ►