Climate Change as Simulated by the NCAR CCSM

Introduction

This animation depicts global surface warming as simulated by the Community Climate System Model (CCSM), version three. It shows the surface temperature anomalies relative to an 1870-1899 average for each month. Notice the greater difference from average at the poles. This is known as "polar amplification."

The Research Effort

This simulation is one of many using the CCSM for the fourth assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It was a large effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.

The period shown is from 1870 to 2100. The colors within the animation depict the temperature anomalies, blue being cooler than the average and red being warmer than the average.

Gary Strand (CGD)
Tim Scheitlin (CISL)