The small ice cap instability in diffusive climate models.

Abstract

Simple climate models employing diffusive heat transport and ice cap albedo feedback have equilibrium solutions with no stable ice cap smaller than a certain finite size. For the usual parameters used in these models the minimum cap has a radius of about 20o on a great circle. This paper explains why the phenomenon occurs in these models by solving them in physically appealing way. Mathematical detail is provided as well as a discussion of why the various mechanisms previously introduced to eliminate the phenomenon work. Finally, a discussion of the relevance of these results to nature is presented.-from Author