Projects

An Integrated Framework for Climate Change Analysis

Abstract

The goal of this project is to develop analytical methods capable of comprehensive, global analysis of climate change, with the detail required for scientific credibility and the computational efficiency needed to study the sensitivities and uncertainties crucial to policy evaluation. Existing models of component processes, chosen to achieve a balance between scientific adequacy and computational efficiency, have been adapted for use in an integrated framework for study of climate change and associated policy choice. Also, new component models have been designed and implemented. The main components of the resulting MIT Integrated Global System Model (IGSM) now include: (1) an economic model for analysis of emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosol precursors (and proposed control policies); (2) a coupled earth system model, which includes the biogeochemistry of climatically important species (including urban and global air chemistry, and the ocean absorption of CO2), and climate dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans, interacting with a land model of water and energy budgets; and (3) a transient model of the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change and natural and emissions. The foci of this continuing effort is to enhance the effectiveness of the IGSM in research on climate change, and to extend its applicability to an evolving set of research needs.

Funding Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Integrated Assessment of Global Climate Change Program

Sponsor Award Number: DE-FG02-94ER61937

Source Category: Federal Research Grant

Principal Investigators: Ronald Prinn and John Reilly