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Open modeling


Types of models in the system #

The CoLab currently uses three primary kinds of models.

Climate models
These are models of the world's physical systems and are used to project the impact of future greenhouse gas emissions on the world's climate.

The most sophisticated of these are known as general circulation models (GCMs), which serves as an important input to the assessment reports prepared periodically by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Integrated assessment models (IAMs)
These models assess the impact of various policies designed to address climate change.

IAMs typically incorporate economic and technological variables, as well as a physical science model that is a less complex than a GCM.

Bottoms up technology models
These models assess the impact on emissions of the adoption of new technologies.

The current version of the CoLab does not include any technology models, but this is an area where models could be incorporated soon.

Current models #

The current version of the CoLab runs the MIT Composite Model, which combines four types of models:

For more on these, see the Models help page

Future models #

In the future the CoLab will incorporate extensions of existing models, as well as new models, based on how the Community chooses to augment and add to the current suite of models.

As part of this effort, the CoLab Community anticipates embracing the principles of open modeling, where large numbers of users will work together to enhance the modeling capability of the system.

The current thinking of the CoLab Community is that extensions to existing models and new models can be proposed by any members.

Final review by accredited experts will occur before new models or new functionality for existing models is made available in the system.