Table of EMICs - Earth System Models of Intermediate Complexity
M. Claussen (ed.) (July 2005)
At the IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) workshop held in Potsdam,
Germany, on June 15-16, 1999, the state of the art of modelling the natural Earth system was
reviewed. It became apparent that Earth system modelling has to rely on a hierarchy of models
in which models of intermediate complexity can play a central role. Depending on the nature of
questions asked and the pertinent time scales, there are, on the one extreme, conceptual, more
inductive models, and, on the other extreme, three-dimensional comprehensive models operating
at the highest spatial and temporal resolution currently feasible. Models of intermediate
complexity bridge the gap. The so-called EMICs describe most of the processes implicit in the
comprehensive models, albeit in a more reduced, i.e., more parameterized form. They nevertheless
simulate the interactions among several, or even all components of the Earth system explicitly.
Moreover, EMICs are simple enough to allow for long-term simulations over several 10,000 years
or a broad range of sensitivity experiments.
Up to now, there is no concise definition of an EMICs. Perhaps, this will presumably never be
achieved, because the border between EMICs and comprehensive models will change with time and
computer capacity. Therefore, in a follow-up workshop in Nice, in April 2000, it was decided to
publish a table of EMICs which are currently in operation. The first Table of EMICs was discussed
in a multi-authored paper by [Claussen et al., 2002, Climate Dynamics, 18]. Several EMIC
intercomparison workshops followed which include studies of sensitivity to changes in atmospheric
CO2 concentrations [Petoukhov et al., 2005, Climate Dynamics, in press], to historical land cover
change [Brovkin et al., 2005, Climate Dynamics, submitted), and an assessment of the stability
of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation [Rahmstorf et al., 2005, submitted].
The Table of EMICs is produced by the principal investigators, and the principal investigators
are responsible for the description of their models. The Table is regularly updated, and new
EMICs will be included. The updated Table can be found at
www.pik-potsdam.de/emics.
Thanks are due to Johann Grüneweg, PIK, for editorial assistance.
