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

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.

From the Back Cover

"This completely updated book provides a clear, unified and comprehensive view of global climate models, consisting of atmosphere, ocean, land/vegetation and sea ice components, and their application to simulations of present, past and future climates. The book will serve well as a text for graduate students, a valuable reference for climate specialists, and an attractive entry point for scientists from many disciplines who are interested in climate modeling and its applications." --John E. Kutzbach, University of Wisconsin From Reviews of the First Edition "Its thorough treatment of atmosphere, ocean and sea ice modeling should give it wide appeal as a textbook for students and as a reference for climate researchers." --John Walsh, University of Illinois "It will be indispensable as a reference and a guide to a whole new generation of atmospheric modelers." --W. Lawrence Gates "Very clearly written...well researched...up to date and accurate." --F.W. Taylor, Oxford University

Edition details

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