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Variational formulation of Budyko-Sellers climate modelsA class of simple climate models including those of the Budyko-Sellers type are formulated from a variational principle. A functional is constructed for the zonally averaged mean annual temperature field such that extrema of the functional occur when the climate satisfies the usual energy-balance equation. Local minima of the functional correspond to stable solutions while saddle points correspond to unstable solutions. The technique can be used to construct approximate solutions from trial functions and to carry out finite-amplitude stability analyses. A spectral example is given in explicit detail.
Document ID
19790044193
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
North, G. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences, Greenbelt, Md.; Missouri, University, St. Louis, Mo., United States)
Howard, L.
(MIT Cambridge, Mass., United States)
Pollard, D.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Wielicki, B.
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, Colo., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1979
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 36
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
79A28206
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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