Week 1: (IS) Background on Climate Modeling - Post 2


Background on Climate Modeling 

With each global temperature rise, there are hundreds of climate models that predicted the rise, and thousands of lines of code that made those models. Climate models are complex computer codes that take into account factors of biology, chemistry, and physics to predict climate behaviors. Every climate model, no matter how complex or simple, contains the same base units of energy, heat, and light. Energy is classified by the joule, and climate energy is classified as a calorie. One calorie is equal to four-point-one-eight joules. These calories are not the same as those on a cereal box. One calorie on a cereal box indicates one-thousand scientific calories. Heat is classified as kinetic energy. Each mode of motion, or possible movement path, carries on average, one-half the K times T, 1/2*KT. Where T is temperature and K is the Boltzmann Constant. This equation is used to determine the heat a certain molecule or atom carries. For example, a single atom, like hydrogen has three dimensions of space so it has three modes of motion. Hydrogen's heat equation would be 3/2*KT. Two atoms, a molecule like oxygen, exists in three dimensions, but also has two rotation modes, and one vibration mode. This means oxygen has six total modes of motion, and it's heat equation is 6/2*KT. Lastly there is Light. All light travels at the same speed. Each wave of light is characterized by wavelength, frequency and wave number. Energy, heat, and light are all used to make up a basic equation that makes an energy balance for the planet. This equation balances the energy coming into the planet and the energy going out. 
The basic climate equation is then tailored to fit the circumstances of the greenhouse effect. By factoring in trapped heat within earth's atmosphere, scientists can effectively predict rises in global temperature due to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate models are used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC. They use the basic climate equation and add different levels of greenhouse gas emissions to predict what will happen to temperature for different emission futures. Every report in the news about the future of climate is based on a climate model, and every climate model has the same base of energy, heat and light.  

Comments

  1. Ms. DunleyNovember 20, 2018 at 10:43 AM

    How frequently do they have to update the climate models?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. neve stegerDecember 1, 2018 at 11:39 AM

      The scientists at the IPCC update the climate models consistently with new developments in data and technology. However, some models are so complex they take months to return results.

      Delete
  2. Dr. BarordDecember 30, 2018 at 7:42 AM

    To understand the above, what kind of background do you think the person reading it would need?

    ReplyDelete

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