NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Climate studies with a multi-layer energy balance model. I - Model description and sensitivity to the solar constant. II - The role of feedback mechanisms in the CO2 problemA nine-layer zonally averaged, steady-state model, based upon thermal energy balance, is developed for use in climate sensitivity studies and includes an accurate treatment of radiative transfer, parameterized meridional and vertical energy transport, and thermodynamic interaction between the surface and the atmosphere. A high degree of nonlinearity is exhibited by the model in a study of sensitivity to changes in the solar constant. The change in the hemispheric mean surface temperature is +3.1 C in response to a 2% increase in the solar constant and -4.3 C in response to a 2% decrease in the solar constant. The sensitivity varies with latitude, and the response of atmospheric temperature varies with height. In addition, the model is used to study the sensitivity of climate to a doubling of the atmospheric CO2 content. It is found that the tropospheric temperature lapse rate decreases at low latitudes but increases at high latitudes in response to a doubled CO2 content. Averaged over the Northern Hemisphere, the change is +2.3 C in the surface temperature and +0.47 C in the earth's brightness temperature. The effects of some feedback mechanisms on the climate sensitivity to a doubled CO2 content show that the sensitivity of surface temperature approximately doubles at all latitudes due to the change in water vapor content.
Document ID
19830037033
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Peng, L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chou, M.-D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Arking, A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences, Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences
Volume: 39
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
83A18251
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available