Incorporating CO2 in a three-state climate model.

Abstract

Around one million years ago the dominant frequency of glacial-interglacial cycles shifted from 41 to 100 kyr without apparent changes in insolation forcing. It has been demonstrated this shift, the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, can be simulated with a simple conceptual three-state climate model using only insolation as external forcing, remaining within the framework of classical astronomical theory. In order to produce the Mid-Pleistocene Transition the model uses two linear trends based on the assumption that atmospheric CO2 decreased over time. In this research project we will reproduce this model and its results and we will improve the model by removing ad hoc assumptions and replacing the linear trends with continuous CO2 forcing.