Climate Change Research Section

Using climate system models

The Climate Change Research Section (CCR) is part of Climate and Global Dynamics (CGD) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado.

The CCR section makes extensive use of state-of-the-art coupled climate system models to study the sensitivity and stability of the Earth system to a variety of forcings, including changes of greenhouse gases, aerosols, solar irradiance, volcanic forcing, land characteristics, and land use change. CCR is a focal point for NCAR and university paleoclimate research and serves as a resource to the paleoclimatic and climate change research community in the use of the Community Earth System Model (CESM). CCR scientists collaborate closely with major U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories in developing and using high-performance coupled climate models to address national climate research and policy questions.

Present and Future Research

CCR's Climate Change and Prediction (CCP) research focuses on the sensitivity and stability of the Earth system to a variety of forcings, including changes of greenhouse gases, aerosols, solar irradiance, volcanic forcing, land characteristics, as well as land use change. In addition, CCP continues to conduct centuries long simulations and ensembles of simulations.