Demystifying Climate Models: A Users Guide to Earth System Models

by Andrew Gettelman, Richard B. Rood

This book demystifies the models we use to simulate present and future climates, allowing readers to better understand how to use climate model results. In order to predict the future trajectory of the Earth’s climate, climate-system simulation models are necessary. When and how do we trust climate model predictions? The book offers a framework for answering this question. It provides readers with a basic primer on climate and climate change, and offers non-technical explanations for how climate models are constructed, why they are uncertain, and what level of confidence we should place in them. It presents current results and the key uncertainties concerning them. Uncertainty is not a weakness but understanding uncertainty is a strength and a key part of using any model, including climate models. Case studies of how climate model output has been used and how it might be used in the future are provided. The ultimate goal of this book is to promote a better understanding of the structure and uncertainties of climate models among users, including scientists, engineers and policymakers.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2016

Reviews

[neens · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book manages to break down the complexity of climate models into their individual components well enough and illustrates underlying physical/chemical dynamics as well as uncertainties. i did miss more details on how exactly models translate to code, which equations can be solved numerically and how, and what statistical small-scale modeling looks like in practice. i understand that this is beyond the target audience of the book though, which are policy makers dealing only with model outputs. despite the hugely complex matter, i wonder if the writing could've been improved to be any less repetitive and abrupt at times.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful book

Much of the discussion about climate is driven by media spin. This makes it difficult to determine reality from noise. This book is very helpful in presenting an unspun picture of how climate models work. It addresses topics you rarely hear about— uncertainty, model structure, scenarios, etc in a way that makes it easier to understand the factors driving the discussion. Presentations are not overly technical and not political at all. That is really useful in gaining understanding

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a subject in which I am both knowledgeable and very interested. The book was much to simplistic for me and I learned nothing. I only give it two stars because I did finish the whole book.
I cannot recommend it for anyone. The discussion is all generalities and nothing about actual findings to date by climate models regarding the threat to humanity posed by global warming.