GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel
Wischhofstr. 1-3
24148 Kiel
Tel.: 0431 600-0
Fax: 0431 600-2805
E-mail: info(at)geomar.de
11:00 h, Hörsaal, Düsternbrooker Weg 20
Abstract:
The top three earth system models now provide a mostly accurate representation of not only of the mean climate but also its modes of monthly to interannual variability. Of course, this is due not only to our improved understanding, but also due to careful adjustment of a few weakly constrained model parameters. Thus, the next challenge we face as community is to reproduce observed climate transitions with a model that is identical to one used for present day scenarios. In this seminar realistic simulations of the last glacial inception and of Dansgaard-Oeschger events will be presented, and the analysis will be used to call attention to critical but poorly understood processes: diapycnal mixing in the ocean and stochastic forcing of the atmosphere. The former explains the glacial-interglacial variations of atmospheric CO2, the latter triggers Dansgaard-Oeschger events. The second part of the seminar then discusses recent progress in our understanding and representation of these processes.