The Greening of Climate Models and Their Application to Understanding the Role of Terrestrial Vegetation in the Climate System

Gordon Bonan

Senior Scientist of Terrestrial Sciences

National Center for Atmospheric Research

Boulder, CO

This seminar reviews the historical development of the land surface models used with climate models. Applications of these models have greatly change our view of plant ecology as a science. We now know that terrestrial ecosystems are important components of the climate system and influence local, regional, and global climates.