Research involves

Reviewing the climate record of the past 130,000 years to understand the long-term mechanisms of climatic change

Research relevance

Development of new computer models for interpreting past and future climatic change

A Model Earth

Imagine you could peer back through 116,000 years of the earth's history and gaze upon the beginning of the last ice age. What triggered the process that left most of the northern hemisphere blanketed in mile-high sheets of ice? Why did the ice begin to melt away 21,000 years ago? A new computer model of the earth may one day answer those questions.

The Earth System Climate Model (ESCM) is a computer simulation of the earth and its climate. It incorporates sophisticated ocean, sea ice, and land ice components. There is a rudimentary atmosphere covering this simulated world, a world designed to bring understanding to the past and help predict the future.

The ESCM is the most recent achievement of Andrew Weaver and his team at the University of Victoria. Already an internationally recognized expert in climate modeling and analysis, Weaver is preparing to improve on his model earth by adding new features to its composition. The ESCM will soon have interactive vegetation (virtual plants that will thrive or die depending on the presence of simulated rain or drought). Land surface features will also be added.

The new, more powerful ESCM will serve as a research platform for testing theories on global warming or gauging the impact of reforestation projects. The effects of greenhouse gases can be run in "fast forward" on this model earth. By changing the amount of those gases in the simulated atmosphere, researchers will be able to offer real-world policy makers a glimpse of many possible futures. How harmful are greenhouse gases? Are current regulations tough enough or do they need to be even more restrictive. The new model earth may help make those decisions.

Dr. Weaver has always taken a multidisciplinary approach to his climatic analysis. The Canada Research Chair will allow him to increase his collaborations with researchers in other disciplines in other institutions. His role as a central link among organizations will be strengthened by his appointment. It's expected the training activities of his own research group would also be enhanced.