ICE CAP WODEL OPERATINC CURVE
1.0 r-;;BfA============:l
o.g
o.e
O.?
~ 0 ,8
5: O~
o
~ 0 .•
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0 Lr:::::d:::~c::::=======::::z::::;::::e~
360
POTENTIAL FUNCTION
-22
10.0
12.0
14.0
TO
295
POTENTIAL FUNCTION
-10
-20
-30
-40
TO
VARIATION OF POTENTIAL
-20r-------------------~~~~_,
Figure 2: Potential function for a two-mode, one-dimensional nonlinear climate model.
The upper left panel shows the operating curve indicating 5 solutions (labeled A, B, C,
D, E) for Q = 344W 1m 2 • The upper right hand panel shows a coarse resolution plot of
the potential function in the To, T2 plane. The lower left panel shows higher resolution
around the right hand basin. The relative minima are stable climate states and the saddle
points correspond to unstable states. The lower right panel represents the va, riation of the
functional F(To, T2) showing solutions of the energy balance model. Further discussion is
in the text.