Chapter 8 Dynamics of future climates

This chapter discusses dynamics of climate change, highlighting particular current issues, and recently developed diagnostic techniques. The full thermodynamic and motion equations are complex and difficult to work with directly. Fortunately, the governing equations can normally be simplified by an appropriate scaling of each of the terms relative to the problem at hand. For both atmospheric and oceanic general circulation models, prognostic equations governing the conservation of momentum, heat, mass, and water substance or salt in the case of the ocean are solved numerically over the globe at a set of discrete levels in the vertical. The largest source of uncertainty with such models is that associated with the requirement to parametrize those physical processes that are not resolvable by the grid chosen. A problem with the use of global data produced by data assimilation systems at major operational centers is the fact that these systems are undergoing continual improvements.