Climate science Department
Focus Areas
Climate Change Modeling
Scientific Imperative.
Simulations from global models provide critical information required to attribute
past climate change and ameliorate future climate change. Despite the sophistication
of current coupled climate models, these generally do not include the biogeochemical
feedbacks, the spatial resolution, and the understanding of abrupt change required
for comprehensive projections. To understand the role of these processes in
regional and global climate change, the climate community should develop Earth
system models (ESMs). ESMs will be designed to simulate the coupled physical,
chemical, and biogeochemical evolution of the environment. It is increasingly
critical to project local extremes in precipitation and other weather conditions
forced by climate change. However, these projections are subject to large uncertainties
governed by model physics and model resolution. New research is needed to understand
whether projections of extremes can converge with better process fidelity and
higher spatial resolution.
Core Capabilities.
One of the leading U.S. efforts is the Community Climate
System Model created by DOE and partners in academia and other
agencies. Simulations conducted with CCSM3 represent a major
contribution to the fourth assessment by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Scientists at Berkeley Lab
have been leaders in the creation of the CCSM series and the
development of new components required to evolve CCSM into
an ESM. Lab staff includes internationally recognized experts
in terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles,
atmospheric aerosols and clouds, radiative forcing, regional
hydrometeorology, and abrupt climate change.
