Long-Term Climate Change Studies with Energy Balance Models

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The physical mechanisms that cause the large scale, long term glacial cycles found in the geologic record are not well understood. In this research project a hierarchy of climate models will be used to investigate the relative importance of some of the physical mechanisms that contribute to shaping climate on the 10,000 to 100,000 year time scale. The scientific investigations to be conducted include 1) an examination of the influence of sea ice and leads on both polar and global climate, especially with respect to their impact on the energy and moisture exchanges between the atmosphere and ocean; 2) an examination of the impact of orbital variation induced solar radiation variations on climate as modeled by the coupled sea ice - climate model, and of the physical mechanisms that facilitate those climate changes; and 3) an investigation into the processes involved in ice sheet initiation. This work is important because it will enhance our understanding of the complex role of sea ice related processes in in affecting long term climate change.