Influence of seasonal variation upon the sensitivity of a model climate.

Investigates the influences of the seasonal variation of solar radiation based upon the results of numerical experiments with a mathematical model of climate. The model consists of: a general circulation model of the atmosphere; a heat- and water-balance model of continents; and a simple mixed layer model of the ocean. It has a limited computational domain and idealized geography. 2 versions of the model are constructed. The response of the seasonal model to the quadrupling of CO₂-concentration in air is compared to the corresponding response of the annual model. It is found that the response of the annual mean surface air temperature of the seasonal model is significantly less than the corresponding response of the annual model.-from Authors NOAA Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, U.S.A.