ERTH 335 - Exam 2 With
Complete Solution
Why do scientists use climate models? - ANSWER 1. to understand present
climate
2. tool to run experiment
3. to understand future climate
4. to communicate scientific understanding
Describe the basic strategy used in climate models to calculate future climate
conditions - ANSWER divide earth into small grids and use equations to
simulate wind, radiation, and variability
How did we calculate future climate using the human climate model? -
ANSWER old temperature + greenhouse warming (0.1 celsius) + random
variability (coin flip) + (velocity*Δ T)
Δ T = neighbors temp - your temp
In the human climate model, why did you have to talk to the person next to
you in order to calculate future climate in your grid box? - ANSWER
Simulates how wind patterns affect temperature
i.e. in the climate model a temperature found in one grid, moves to the right
after a few time steps, mimicking how heat is exchanged when the wind
picks up and transfers this air
What, in the Human Climate Model, could you calculate without talking to
, the person next to you? - ANSWER the future climate influenced by
greenhouse warming and variability (excludes wind patterns)
What processes in the Human Climate Model were realistic? - ANSWER -
effect of wind to temperature
- general climate in certain regions
- simulates variability
What to improve on Human Climate Model? - ANSWER - 2 dimensional winds
instead of 1 dimensional
- vertical structure (using info from the person in front of you as well)
- winds that change with time
What processes dominate the evolution of climate models over short
timescales (hours to days)? - ANSWER winds
What processes dominate the evolution of climate models over long
timescales (decades to centuries)? - ANSWER global warming
What physical processes must be represented in a climate model?
What other physical processes are also sometimes included represented by
climate models? - ANSWER temperature, pressure, and wind
other physical processes: clouds, humidity, rainfall, co2, albedo
What is the biggest uncertainty in future projections of the Earth's climate
made by climate models? - ANSWER exactly how much CO2 humans will emit
in the future
What does the instrumental record of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Complete Solution
Why do scientists use climate models? - ANSWER 1. to understand present
climate
2. tool to run experiment
3. to understand future climate
4. to communicate scientific understanding
Describe the basic strategy used in climate models to calculate future climate
conditions - ANSWER divide earth into small grids and use equations to
simulate wind, radiation, and variability
How did we calculate future climate using the human climate model? -
ANSWER old temperature + greenhouse warming (0.1 celsius) + random
variability (coin flip) + (velocity*Δ T)
Δ T = neighbors temp - your temp
In the human climate model, why did you have to talk to the person next to
you in order to calculate future climate in your grid box? - ANSWER
Simulates how wind patterns affect temperature
i.e. in the climate model a temperature found in one grid, moves to the right
after a few time steps, mimicking how heat is exchanged when the wind
picks up and transfers this air
What, in the Human Climate Model, could you calculate without talking to
, the person next to you? - ANSWER the future climate influenced by
greenhouse warming and variability (excludes wind patterns)
What processes in the Human Climate Model were realistic? - ANSWER -
effect of wind to temperature
- general climate in certain regions
- simulates variability
What to improve on Human Climate Model? - ANSWER - 2 dimensional winds
instead of 1 dimensional
- vertical structure (using info from the person in front of you as well)
- winds that change with time
What processes dominate the evolution of climate models over short
timescales (hours to days)? - ANSWER winds
What processes dominate the evolution of climate models over long
timescales (decades to centuries)? - ANSWER global warming
What physical processes must be represented in a climate model?
What other physical processes are also sometimes included represented by
climate models? - ANSWER temperature, pressure, and wind
other physical processes: clouds, humidity, rainfall, co2, albedo
What is the biggest uncertainty in future projections of the Earth's climate
made by climate models? - ANSWER exactly how much CO2 humans will emit
in the future
What does the instrumental record of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
