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Two-dimensional energy balance model and its application to some climatic issues

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Abstract

Based on a two-dimensional energy balance model, the studies on some climatic issues such as the relationship between ice cap latitude and solar constant, desertification, and the warming effect of carbon dioxide, have been reviewed and discussed. The phenomenon that a fixed solar constant might correspond to different equilibrium ice cap latitudes is determined by the continuity of albedo distribution. The discontinuity in albedo distribution increases the number of equilibrium ice cap latitudes. Desert would expand both northward and southward when desert surface albedo is increasing. This would deteriorate the ecological environment in border regions, and then threaten the existence of local inhabitants. Melting of the polar ice would not be accelerated, with increasing carbon dioxide concentration. The ice cap latitude would move northward slowly, with some “hiatus” periods, under the slowly increasing global average surface temperature. According to the current research, future development of the two-dimensional energy balance model and possible progress are also forecasted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Yaokun Li  (李耀锟)

  2. National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, Beijing, 100081, China

    Jiping Chao  (巢纪平)

Authors
  1. Yaokun Li  (李耀锟)
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  2. Jiping Chao  (巢纪平)
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Correspondence to Yaokun Li  (李耀锟).

Additional information

Supported by the National (Key) Basic Research and Development (973) Program of China (2014CB953903) and Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities (2013YB45).

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Li, Y., Chao, J. Two-dimensional energy balance model and its application to some climatic issues. J Meteorol Res 28, 747–761 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-014-4027-1

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