Summary

The website content provides an overview of how to use Netlogo for do-it-yourself climate modelling, emphasizing the importance of understanding climate change principles and the role of albedo and greenhouse gases in the process.

Abstract

The article discusses the use of Netlogo, a multi-agent programmable modeling environment, for climate change modelling. It highlights the importance of measuring temperature and heat flows across various surfaces, including land, ocean, sea ice, and urban environments, to feed into climate models. These models are validated by matching predictions with observations and are crucial for making recommendations to tackle climate change. The article also touches on the underestimation of climate change speed and the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. It introduces the Netlogo Climate Change Model, provides tutorials, and discusses the significance of albedo in climate modelling, particularly in relation to the urban heat island effect and the impact of decreasing ice cover on Earth's temperature. The model demonstrates heat energy flow, the role of greenhouse gases, and cloud cover, offering a hands-on approach to understanding complex climate systems.

Opinions

The author believes that climate modelling is not only a tool for scientists but also accessible and educational for the general public through platforms like Netlogo.
There is a sense of urgency conveyed about the need to understand and address climate change, driven by a major push in the world economy to combat it.
The author suggests that personal engagement with climate models, such as simulating an apartment in city surroundings, can provide a relatable context for understanding the broader implications of climate change.
The article implies that extreme weather events are a tangible reality, not just theoretical predictions, and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the impact of climate change on daily life.
The author expresses hope that by using models like Netlogo's Climate Change Model, individuals can gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges posed by climate change and the necessity of collective action.

Modelling Climate Change

Do-it-yourself climate modelling with Netlogo.

Netlogo Climate Change Model Ready to run. Screenshot by John Rose.

About Climate Models

Climate scientists extensively measure temperature and heat flows across land and ocean under sea and ice.

Captured data fed into multiple climate models, Models validated by matching observations against predictions, Once validated models can make, Within limits, Predictions for recommendations tackling climate change.

Many climate model predictions from last century now realities, Speed of change underestimated, Extreme weather events more intense and frequent than predicted.

Wanted understanding of principles behind climate modelling, Because of major push in world economy to tackle climate change, Also been asked to teach modelling.

Netlogo’s Climate Change Model:

Great if you’d have fun experimenting, Wrote article introducing modelling, Gives information on how to setup and run pre-installed library models.

Tutorials and more models at North Western University’s Netlogo homepage.

Putting Things Into Context

Like to relate model to something familiar, Like my apartment in city surrounds, Gives me something to think about as model predicts blistering hot apartment.

Change Albedo setting for urban heat island effect, Created by replacement of natural surfaces with hard impervious materials that are generally dark and absorb large amounts of solar radiation.

Select the Climate Change Model. It will install. Click “Setup” then “go” to run your own climate model! Screenshot by John Rose.

What is Albedo?

Albedo measures diffuse reflection of solar radiation out of total solar radiation, Value from 0 no reflection to 1 all radiation reflected.

Ocean surface has low albedo and ocean absorbing heat contributes to rising sea levels, Warming ocean leads to heavy rains Flooding Australia.

Forests have low albedo, Desert areas high albedos, Cloud cover increases albedo, Complex interactions.

Earth’s average surface temperature due to albedo and greenhouse effect is currently about 15 °C (59 °F).

Albedo and Climate Change

Amount of ice covering planet decreasing because global warming, Causes decrease in areas of white, Lowers albedo leading to less reflection and higher heat absorption then increasing greenhouse effect that further changes Earth’s albedo, Positive feedback loop, May have tipping point.

Netlogo Model

Model is about flow of heat energy.

Shows earth as rose colored with surface represented by thin black strip.

Above surface blue atmosphere, Black space at top.

Clouds and CO2 can be added, CO2 represents greenhouse gases blocking emission of infrared light emitted by Earth.

Clouds block incoming or outgoing sun rays influencing heating or cooling down of Earth.

Click Info TAB to see how the model works with suggestions on what to try. Screen Capture by John Rose.

Reflection.

In SE Australia, where I live, Extreme weather events happen frequently with floods all over state, No longer is climate change just product of someone’s fevered imagination, I hope model gives you feel for what is coming to every home.

Blessed be.

Citations

Climate Change Model: Tinker, R. and Wilensky, U. (2007). NetLogo Climate Change model. http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/models/ClimateChange. Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.

NetLogo software: Wilensky, U. (1999). NetLogo. http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL.