Detailed three-dimensional numerical models of the atmosphere, coupled as necessary to models of other parts of the climatic system, provide the most promising approach to understanding the physical basis of climate. Models of this kind can be used to investigate the impact of anthropogenic pollution on climate. At the present time, the main concern is with increasing concentrations of CO2 which might lead to overall warming of the troposphere, but chemical and thermal pollution may also pose a threat. The possible climatic changes would take place slowly and would involve the response of the slowly reacting parts of the climatic system, particularly the oceans. The problem of how to simulate such changes of climate presents many difficulties, which are currently being studied.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Manabe, S., Bryan, K. & Spelman, M. J. J. phys. Oceanogr. 5, 3–29 (1975).
Holloway, J. L., Jr & Manabe, S. Mon. Weath. Rev. 99, 335–370 (1971).
Stone, P. H., Chow, S. & Quirk, W. J. Mon. Weath. Rev. 105, 170–194 (1977).
Washington, W. M., Otto-Bliesner, B. & Williamson, G. January and July simulation experiments with the 2.5° latitude–longitude version of the NCAR general model (NCAR/TN 123 STR, NCAR, Boulder, Colorado, 1977).
Gates, W. L. & Schlesinger, M. E. J. atmos. Sci. 34, 36–76 (1977).
Corby, G. A., Gilchrist, A. & Rowntree, P. R. Methods in Computational Physics, 17, The UK Meteorological Office 5-level General Circulation Model. (Academic, New York, 1977).
CLIMAP Project Members. Science 191, 1131–1138 (1976).
Manabe, S. & Hahn, D. G. J. geophys. Res., 82, 3889–3911 (1977).
Williams, J., Barry, R. G. & Washington, W. M. J. appl. Meteor. 13, 305–317 (1974).
Gates, W. L. J. atmos. Sci. 33, 1844–1873 (1976).
Charney, J. G. Q. Jl. R. meteor. Soc. 101, 193–202 (1975).
Charney, J. G., Quirk, W. J., Chow, Shu-Hsien & Kornfield, J. J. atmos. Sci. 34, 1366–1385 (1977).
Walker, J. & Rowntree, P. R. Q. Jl. R. meteor. Soc. 103, 29–46 (1977).
Augustsson, T. & Ramanathan, V. J. atmos. Sci. 34, 448–451 (1977).
Manabe, S. & Wetherald, R. T. J. atmos. Sci. 32, 3–15 (1975).
WMO Bull. No. 319 (1976).
Newson, R. L. Nature 241, 39–40 (1973).
Williams, J., Kromer, G. & Gilchrist, A. IIAS A Research Memorandum RM-77-15, 2361, Laxenburg, Austria (1977).
Groves, K. S., Mattingly, S. R. & Tuck, A. F. Nature 273, 711–715 (1978).
Mattingly, S. R., Met. Office 20. Tech. Note 11/123, Bracknell, UK (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gilchrist, A. Numerical simulation of climate and climatic change. Nature 276, 342–345 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/276342a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/276342a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Modeling human-induced climatic change: A summary for environmental managers
Environmental Management (1995)
-
Scenario for a warm, high-CO2 world
Nature (1980)