Climate change and the Arctic hydrologic cycle as calculated by a global coupled atmosphere-ocean model

A global coupled atmosphere-ocean model is used to examine the hydrologic cycle of the Arctic Ocean. A 74 year control simulation of the present climate is used to examine variability of the hydrologic cycle, including precipitation, sea ice, glacial ice and river discharge. A 74 year transient simulation in which atmospheric CO₂ increases each year at a compound rate of 1% is then used to examine potential changes in the hydrologic cycle. Among these changes are a 4°C increase in mean annual surface air temperature in the Arctic Ocean, a decrease in ice cover which begins after 35 years, and increases in river discharge and cloud cover. -from Authors