Coupled Models

Some examples of results from equilibrium simulations of a doubled CO₂ climate will now be described. Figure 6 gives results for coupled models that use a "mixed layer" (shallow ocean of constant temperature and salinity in the vertical direction). The right-hand-most column gives the global mean temperature change and precipitation change projected by the simulation of a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ . Note that the temperatures projected for a doubling of CO₂ are all positive (warming rather than cooling) and range from 1.9^o C to 5.2^oC with a mean value of 3.7^oC. Similarly, all models report precipitation increases ranging from 3 to 15% with a mean of 8.7%. Figure 7 gives some of the most recent results from longer runs (see length of run given in right-hand column). Changes in temperature and precipitation from a CO₂ doubling are comparable to the previous table.

Maps showing the global distribution of changes in temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture for a doubling of atmospheric CO₂ are given in the following series of colored charts. These are from high-resolution models from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the United Kingdom Meteorological Office, respectively.

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