Modelling global ice and climate changes through the ice ages

Abstract

A global energy balance model has been developed which includes an interactive mixed layer ocean, sea ice, and snow and ice cover on the land. A full annual cycle is included and the model provides a close simulation to the variation of surface temperature through the year over land and over ocean as a function of latitude. The present annual variations of sea ice and snow on the ground are also well simulated. The model has been used for a wide range of sensitivity tests which include variations of the solar constant, surface albedos, and the effects of feed-back, or absence of feed-back, in the reponse of the snow and ice cover.Studies have been made of the model’s response to the long ter..