Climate models - evaluation

Abstract

In the evaluation of coupled models there is no single 'figure of merit' that adequately represents the validity of a model's simulations or predictions, and a variety of performance measures are required. The evaluations reported in this chapter are of three types: (1) evaluation of selected aspects of coupled models, (2) evaluation of the atmospheric, oceanic, land-surface and sea ice model components, and (3) evaluation of the sensitivity of the links between these components. There has been significant progress in all three types since IPCC (1990). Comprehensive analysis and intercomparison of virtually all current global atmospheric models is being undertaken by the international Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP). A comprehensive and systematic evaluation of coupled models based on global observational data is a goal yet to be achieved.