The Effect of a Solar Perturbation on a Global Climate Model

Abstract

A quasi-three-dimensional global climate model is used to study the effect of a transient change in solar radiation on the model's climate. The solar constant is decreased abruptly by 5 percent in the 10th year of a 50-year run. It is then returned to its original value at increments of 1 percent per year. Although significant changes occur during the perturbation including a drop in the average global surface temperature of about 2.6 K, the long-term effects on the model's climate are small.