From CAWSES

How to quantify and numerically test indirect solar effects upon climate?

Presently, stand-alone models exist for different processes, such as the chemical effects of solar UV irradiance or of energetic particles precipitated in the upper atmosphere, cosmic ray induced ionization, linkage between atmospheric layers, aerosol formation, cloud formation from aerosols, atmosphere-ocean coupling and modes of variability. Some of the above processes are included in full climate models, but to different degrees and with varying quality of physical representation. Here we aim to develop appropriate parameterizations in order to include the above effects into climate models and estimate their impacts. Experiments with the enhanced models may potentially help in a better evaluation of different solar effects upon climate.

Co-leaders

Gavin Schmidt (US)

Katja Matthes (GER)

Proposed active collaborators:

Aerosol, cloud models - J. Kazil (GER), B.Tinsley (US), K. Kusano (Japan), J.E. Kristjansson (NOR);

Atm. Electricity – R.G. Harrison (UK), K. Aplin (UK), M. Fuellekrug (UK)

EPP – M. Clilverd (UK), C. Randall (US), C. Jackman (US), C. Rogers (NZ), M. Duldig (Australia)

GCM – D. Koch (US), E. Rosanov (CH), C. Ammann (US), H. Schmidt (Germany)

Ionization – P. Velinov (Bulgaria), G. Kovaltsov (Russia)

Atmospheric coupling – L. Gray (UK), K. Kodera (Japan), M. Geller (US)