For this assignment, you should access the C-roads World Climate simulator (either online or downloaded to
your computer).
This can be found at:
https://www.climateinteractive.org/tools/c-roads/
On the site listed above, you will have the option to download the simulator or use the online option. I chose to
download it to my computer.
Once you have accessed the simulation, I want you to explore (Inquiry-style) to see how certain changes you
make in the simulation could achieve a limit to global warming.
Here is the challenge: what changes could you make to limit the average global warming to +2.0 degrees
Celsius by 2100? How you get there will be your choice. The simulation offers you advanced features to alter
the model (see in the menu at the top where it says ‘simulation’ and go to ‘assumptions’). This model has
certain assumptions for the basic physical processes of global temperature (including such factors as ocean
mixing, climate sensitivity, Biomass loss from afforestation, etc…). If you want to you can alter these
assumptions, but keep in mind that these parameters are probably set based upon empirical evidence and
scientific measurements – so as a scientist you’d have to have a pretty good justification for altering them. But
it’s worth thinking about. Every model is based on assumptions – and if those assumptions are incorrect the
model won’t be of much use. Sometimes little errors in our model assumptions can have big effects on the
accuracy of the prediction – just some food for thought as we go about exploring the simulation (and also
consider the intense political debates on this subject). Solutions to the problem of global warming will involve
considerable investment and economic sacrifice world-wide, so it’s no wonder that it has become a political
issue.
So unless you are really gung-ho, you might just choose to not alter the basic assumptions. But if you want to
experiment with those, I will be curious to hear what you find.
Here is what you will do:
With the goal of limiting global warming to +2.0 degrees C, you should tweak the numbers for the six key
players (US, EU, Other Developed countries, China, India, Other Developing Countries) to get to +2.0 degrees
C or less by 2100. How will you do it?
Sample Solution