Sea-ice observations

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511535659.010

8 - Sea-ice observations

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 October 2009

Seymour W. Laxon ,

John E. Walsh ,

Peter Wadhams ,

Ola M. Johannessen and

Martin Miles

Edited by

Jonathan L. Bamber and

Antony J. Payne

Foreword by

John Houghton

Show author details

Seymour W. Laxon: Affiliation:
Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling, University College London
John E. Walsh: Affiliation:
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Illinois
Peter Wadhams: Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge
Ola M. Johannessen: Affiliation:
Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Bergen
Martin Miles: Affiliation:
Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Bergen
Jonathan L. Bamber: Affiliation:
University of Bristol
Antony J. Payne: Affiliation:
University of Bristol

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Summary

Introduction

The Earth's climate system is presently undergoing an uncontrolled experiment as a result of man's increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and other greenhouse gases – gases that exert a positive radiative forcing of climate – into the atmosphere, as well as anthropogenic aerosols (microscopic particles) that have a negative radiative forcing. As a net result of these forcings and associated dynamics, changes in global mean temperature are predicted to exceed their natural variability between the decades 1980 and 2010 (Cubasch et al., 1995). An assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded cautiously that the balance of observational evidence already suggests a discernible human influence on the global climate (IPCC, 1995).

As a complement to observational studies, numerical models are used to understand better climate and climate change, including the effect of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols. The most advanced climate models are coupled oceanic and atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs). These models simulate the climate system based on physical laws describing the dynamics and physics of the ocean and atmosphere, and include representations of land–surface processes and other complex processes including those related to sea ice. Model runs include changes in external forcings such as those from increasing greenhouse gases and aerosols. A consensus from the numerical modelling community is that greenhouse warming will be enhanced in the polar regions, especially the Arctic (Figure 8.1).

Type: Chapter
Information: Mass Balance of the Cryosphere
Observations and Modelling of Contemporary and Future Changes
, pp. 337 - 366

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511535659.010 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2004

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