Characteristics of coupled atmosphere-ocean CO₂ sensitivity experiments with different ocean formulations

The Community Climate Model at the National Center for Atmospheric Research has been coupled to a simple mixed-layer ocean model and to a coarse-grid ocean general circulation model (OGCM). This paper compares the responses of simulated climate to increases of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) in these two coupled models. These two sets of experiments demonstrate that different ocean models and types of CO₂ forcing in the climate system result in different CO₂ climate responses. Earlier studies with energy-balance climate models confirm that instantaneous CO₂ doubling simulations respond differently than transient simulations. -from Authors