The Planet Simulator: Green planet and desert world

Abstract

An application of the Planet Simulator is presented to estimate the maximum effect of vegetation on the Earth's climate. Four sets of sensitivity experiments are performed: (1) All vegetation related land surface parameters are changed simultaneously. (2) Only one effect of vegetation on climate is considered: albedo, surface roughness and soil hydrology. To identify the nature of vegetation-climate interaction, linear superposition and non-linear interaction of these three effects are compared. (3) The first experimental set-up is repeated but with mixed-layer ocean and thermodynamic sea-ice. (4) The effect of enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations on extreme vegetation climates is analysed repeating the preceding experimental setup with twice the CO2 concentration (compared to set-3).