ncar_advanced_study_program_thompson_lecture_series | CU-Boulder Environmental Studies Program

NCAR Advanced Study Program Thompson Lecture Series

Wed Apr 06, 2011. 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
NCAR Foothills Lab 2, 1022

Boulder Flatirons from the south

Category: Lecture

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NCAR Advanced Study Program Thompson Lecture Series

Wed Apr 06, 2011. 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
NCAR Foothills Lab 2, 1022

Using Earth System Models to provide better policy-relevant information

Gavin Schmidt, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Institute for Space Studies

The increase in functionality of the current generation of Earth System Models over that used in IPCC AR4 provides a tremendous opportunity for science to better inform policy. Traditional approaches to assessing the multiple anthropogenic drivers of climate change have been based on reductionist assessments of single factors in the atmosphere/land surface (for instance, the 'forcings bar chart' in the IPCC AR4 SPM).

However, no policy instrument affects only one single factor, and many of the emitted species interact through atmospheric chemistry. Including these interactions, and a full set of chemical and aerosol species in the climate models allows for the full 'Earth System' assessment of the implications of any real policy change encompassing not only climate drivers, but also air pollution, public health, and ecosystem impacts.

Policy development can then focus on ideas that provide win-win solutions across multiple sectors and broader constituencies than is currently perceived.

Dr. Schmidt is a well-known climate scientist at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He works mainly on coupling the atmosphere and ocean systems in climate models, and modeling both the recent and more distant (paleo) climate. Dr. Schmidt is also very active in media outreach, and is a contributing editor of the well-known Real Climate blog. He has published in top journals such as Science, Nature, and PNAS, and was listed as one of Scientific American's "Top 50 Research Leaders" of the year.

Websites: NCAR Event

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