The division's current workhorse atmospheric general circulation model is known as the CCC AGCM2 (McFarlane, et al., 1992). This second generation model has been used extensively for equilibrium climate change simulations with and without the direct effects of sulfate aerosols (Reader and Boer, 1998; Boer, et al., 1992), Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project studies (Zwiers 1996; Zwiers and Kharin, 1998), paleo-climate studies (Vettori et al., 1998), passive tracer studies (Holzer, 1999) and predictability studies (Kharin et al., 2001). The CCC AGCM2 is also used in the production of operational seasonal climate forecasts at the Canadian Meteorological Centre, and it is used by a number of collaborators.

The CCC AGCM2 is the atmospheric component of the division's recently developed first generation coupled global climate model, which is known as CGCM1 (Flato et al., 2000). CGCM1 couples the atmospheric AGCM2 to a specially adapted version of the GFDL Modular Ocean Model (MOM) and a thermodynamic sea-ice model. A transient climate change experiment (Boer et al., 2000 a,b) which takes the effects of historical and projected changes in greenhouse gas concentrations and sulfate aerosol distributions into account for the period between years 1850 and 2100 has recently been completed. Selected data from these simulations have been contributed to the IPCC Data Distribution Centre to facilitate its use for climate impact studies. This model has also been used for the US National Assessment. Scenarios developed from the model are available from USGCRP's web site. Data are also available from our data section.

A third-generation atmospheric model CCC AGCM3 has currently become operational at CCCma. It operates at higher resolution and includes improved boundary layer, convection, cloud and radiation parameterizations, an optimized representation of the earth's topography, and a new land surface module (CLASS). AGCM2 forms the basis of the Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (MAM) which was developed by the MAM group of the Climate Research Network. The next version of the Division's coupled global climate model, which couples AGCM3 to the NCOM ocean model and a dynamical sea-ice model, is under development.

Diagnostic studies of both the observed and simulated climate system are also an integral component of CCCma's work. The Division has developed an extensive climate diagnostics package that is fully integrated into CCCma's modelling environment. The diagnostics package is used by a number of groups within the Meteorological Service of Canada and in the Canadian university community, and has been emulated elsewhere.

CCCma participates in a broad range of international studies and programs, including intercomparison projects such as AMIP, the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) the Seasonal forecasting Model Intercomparison Project (SMIP) and TRANSCOM (a chemical tracer modelling intercomparison project). CCCma members contribute to CLIVAR, ACSYS, SPARC and other committees and working groups. CCCma contributed to the 1990, 1995, and 2001 IPCC reports.

References:

Boer, G.J., Flato, G.M., Reader, M.C., and Ramsden, D., 2000a: A transient climate change simulation with historical and projected greenhouse gas and aerosol forcing: experimental design and comparison with the instrumental record for the 20th century. Climate Dynamics, 16, 405-425.

Boer, G.J., Flato, G.M, and Ramsden, D., 2000b: A transient climate change simulation with historical and projected greenhouse gas and aerosol forcing: projected climate for the 21st century. Climate Dynamics, 16, 427-450.

Boer, G.J., N.A. McFarlane, and M. Lazare, 1992: Greenhouse Gas-induced Climate Change Simulated with the CCC Second-Generation General Circulation Model. J. Climate, 5, 1045-1077.

Flato, G.M., Boer, G.J., Lee, W.G., McFarlane, N.A., Ramsden, D., Reader, M.C., and Weaver, A.J., 2000: The Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis Global Coupled Model and its Climate. Climate Dynamics, 16, 451-467.

Holzer, M., 1999: Analysis of passive tracer transport as modelled by an atmospheric general circulation model. J. Climate, 12, 1659-1684.

Kharin, V. V., F. W. Zwiers, and N. Gagnon, 2001: Skill of seasonal hindcasts as a function of the ensemble size. Climate Dynamics, in press.

McFarlane, N.A., G.J. Boer, J.-P. Blanchet, and M. Lazare (1992): The Canadian Climate Centre Second-Generation General Circulation Model and Its Equilibrium Climate. J. Climate, 5, 1013-1044.

Reader, M.C., and Boer, G.J., 1998: The modification of greenhouse gas warming by the direct effect of sulphate aerosols. Climate Dynamics, 14, 593-607.

Vettoretti, G, W. R. Peltier, and N. A. McFarlane, 1998: Simulations of the Mid Holocene Climate Using an Atmospheric General Circulation Model., J. Climate, 11, 2607-2627.

Zwiers F. W., 1996: Interannual Variability and Predictability in an Ensemble of AMIP Climate Simulations Conducted with the CCC GCM2. Climate Dynamics, 12, 825-847.

Zwiers, F. W. and V. V. Kharin, 1998: Intercomparison of Interannual variability and potential predictability: An AMIP Diagnostic Subproject. Climate Dynamics, 14, 517-528.