An Introduction to Three-Dimensional Climate Modeling, second edition - Hardcover

Washington, Warren M.; Parkinson, Claire

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1891389351 ISBN 13: 9781891389351

Publisher: University Science Books, 2005

Synopsis

This book provides an introduction to the development of three-dimensional climate models, including their four major components: atmosphere, ocean, land/vegetation, and sea ice.
The fundamental processes in each component and the interactions among them are explained using basic scientific principles, and elements of the numerical methods used in solving the model equations are also provided. The authors show how the theory and models grew historically and how well they are able to account for known aspects of the climate system.
This book is written so that a reader who is only vaguely aware of climate models will be able to gain an understanding of what the models are attempting to simulate, how the models are constructed, what the models have succeeded in simulating, and how the models are being used.
Examples illustrating the use of the models to simulate aspects of the current climate system are followed by examples illustrating the application of the models to important scientific areas such as understanding paleoclimates, the last millennium, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation, and the effects of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations on future climate change.
The book is appropriate for scientists, graduate students, and upper-level undergraduates and can be used as a textbook or for self study and reference. The authors have considerably updated the book from the first edition by adding descriptions of many techniques and results developed since the mid-1980s.

Contents

1 Introduction and Historical Development
2 Physical Description of the Climate System
3 Basic Model Equations
4 Basic Methods of Solving Model Equations
5 Examples of Simulations of Present-Day Climate
6 Climate Sensitivity Experiments
7 Outlook for Future Developments

About this title

Synopsis

Warren M. Washington is consultant and advisor to a number of government officials and committees on climate-system modelling. Now along with Claire Parkinson (NASA) he gives the reader insight into the complex field of climate modelling. Updated and revised from the first edition, this book is a welcome reference on climate modeling; an area that is becoming more and more sought after in light of environmental changes. Suitable for those wanting an in-road into understanding climate modeling but also an excellent companion for those with some prior knowledge of modeling meteorological systems.

About the Author

WARREN M. WASHINGTON is a Senior Scientist and Head of the Climate Change Research Section in the Climate and Global Dynamics Division at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

CLAIRE PARKINSON is a NASA scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Science Books
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1891389351
• ISBN 13: 9781891389351
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 380