C LIMATE M ODELING MODELING CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE
Interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, ice, land surface, and the marine and terrestrial biosphere control the global climate system. These components are coupled by the exchange of momentum, radiative energy, and trace constituents ’ mass. Various processes drive this exchange and require diff...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.230.7202 http://csdl.computer.org/dl/mags/cs/2002/05/c5056.pdf |
| Summary: | Interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, ice, land surface, and the marine and terrestrial biosphere control the global climate system. These components are coupled by the exchange of momentum, radiative energy, and trace constituents ’ mass. Various processes drive this exchange and require different computational methods to model it. 1521-9615/02/$17.00 © 2002 IEEE Changes in the solar cycle, shifts in terrestrial vegetation, variations in sea ice coverage, and volcanic eruptions have always led to climate variability, as can be seen from proxy data such as ice cores, tree rings, or lake sediments. In the past century, a growing suite of anthropogenic perturbations has been added to the mix and has begun to significantly change the atmosphere’s state. Trace constituents, such as greenhouse gases and aerosols, can alter the radiative balance and thus exert a warming or cooling influence throughout the atmospheric column. Agricultural and industrial activities as well as land-use practices have also significantly changed the atmospheric composition. Consequently, between 1860 and 1990, the atmospheric volume mixing ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) increased from 280 to 350 ppmv, methane (CH4) rose from 0.7 to 1.7 ppmv, and nitrous oxide (N2O) rose from 0.28 to 0.31 ppmv. Ozone has nearly doubled in the troposphere yet decreased in the lower stratosphere due to anthropogenic halocarbon emissions. The sources and |
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