An Introduction to Climate Change Models

Today, climate change, with its profound impact on the environment and human life, stands as one of the most significant global challenges. These changes have led to substantial economic cost damages and detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and well-being. Therefore, predicting climate change to manage and reduce the associated costs is of critical importance. A key step in climate change studies is selecting the most appropriate model to minimize the uncertainties related to predicting climatic parameters. This article aims to investigate the various climate change models to enable researchers to identify and select the most appropriate and efficient model based on their needs and goals. An accurate selection can facilitate better planning and more effective responses to crises resulting from future climate change. In this study, over 80 articles on climate change studies in Iran and worldwide were reviewed from scientific databases. The findings revealed that climate change prediction models are classified into five main categories: Energy Balance Models, Radiative-Convective Models or Single-Column Models, Dimensionally Constrained Models, Earth system models, and General Circulation Models. Furthermore, no single model is universally suitable for all objectives or temporal and spatial scales. However, all models, if appropriately selected and utilized, can provide valuable insights into the climate system. Considering the vast diversity of climate models and the importance of understanding them, this research introduces the various types of climate change prediction models.