Climate Modeling Lab

Climate Modeling — Temperature & Feedback Loops

Climate models compute Earth's temperature by balancing incoming solar radiation against outgoing longwave radiation, modified by greenhouse gases and feedback mechanisms like ice-albedo and water vapor. This energy-balance model lets you set atmospheric CO₂ concentration, solar constant, and feedback strengths to project global mean temperature under different emission scenarios. Understanding how feedbacks amplify or dampen the initial forcing is central to modern climate science.

What you can do in this simulation

• Set CO₂ concentration and compute the resulting radiative forcing and equilibrium temperature
• Toggle individual feedbacks — ice-albedo, water vapor, cloud — and measure each amplification
• Run RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 emission scenarios and compare temperature trajectories
• Adjust climate sensitivity parameter and observe its large influence on projected warming
• Introduce a volcanic aerosol forcing and see the temporary cooling response

Concepts covered

radiative forcing · climate sensitivity · energy balance · feedback loop · albedo · emission scenario

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