By
David Randall, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA
Description
General Circulation Models (GCMs) are rapidly assuming widespread use as powerful tools for predicting global events on time scales of
months to decades, such as the onset of EL Nino, monsoons, soil moisture saturation indices, global warming estimates, and even snowfall
predictions. While GCMs have been praised for helping to foretell the current El Nino and its impact on droughts in Indonesia, its full
power is only now being recognized by international scientists and governments who seek to link GCMs to help them estimate fish harvests,
risk of floods, landslides, and even forest fires.
Scientists in oceanography, hydrology, meteorology, and climatology and civil, ocean,
and geological engineers perceive a need for a reference on GCM design. In this compilation of information by an internationally recognized
group of experts, Professor Randall brings together the knowledge base of the forerunners in theoretical and applied frontiers of GCM
development.
General Circulation Model Development focuses on the past, present, and future design of numerical methods
for general circulation modeling, as well as the physical parameterizations required for their proper implementation. Additional chapters
on climate simulation and other applications provide illustrative examples of state-of-the-art GCM design.
Included in series
International Geophysics
Audience:
Researchers, professors, and graduate level students in oceanography, climatology, meteorology, hydrology, and those interested in how
to code and paramaterize the physics of the ocean, atmosphere, and land surfaces into a predictive model.
