Research on Greenhouse-Gas-Induced Climate Change

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

The PI will use climate and photochemistry models to simulate changes in climate and atmospheric composition due to changes in both natural and anthropogenic climate forcing factors, estimate the statistical significance of the simulated changes, and determine feedbacks that occur as a result of including interactive photochemistry into climate system models. The research is divided into the following six related projects: (i) study of CO2 and CH4 induced climate change with interactive photochemisty; (ii) study of whether the sun has changed climate; (iii) simulations of the changes in climate and atmospheric composition induced by the Pinatubo volcanic eruption; (iv) simulations of the climate and atmospheric composition of the last glacial maximum; (v) study of the interactions between tropospheric ozone and climate; and (vi) continuation of collaborations on climate impacts and policy and participation in model intercomparison projects. The PI will estimate impacts and effects on an adaptive decision strategy for climate-change abatement. The work is important because it will increase our understanding of climate variability on longer time scales. The research also has important implications for climate change policy.