Integrated Earth System Model Development Group Figure: Varieties of earth process that concern global warming The purpose of this group is to develop an integrated earth system model that can simulate these interactions, and provide reliable predictions for the change of global climate. Climate change, such as global warming, is an outcome of complex interactions among climate, terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems, and chemical composition of atmosphere. In current studies of climate change, atmospheric CO2 concentration is first calculated using carbon emission scenarios and simple models of terrestrial and oceanic carbon budgets. The calculated CO2 concentration is then substituted into climate model, and predictions of climate are obtained. However, this approach does not consider any feedbacks between climate and carbon cycle; while increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration would cause global warming, and global warming could in turn affects process of CO2 release and uptake by terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. For example, global warming would enhance decomposition of terrestrial organic matters, and thereby accelerating CO2 release from land surface. Moreover, climate change could also affect concentration of troposphere ozone, which is another greenhouse effect gas. Therefore, in order to provide reliable predictions of climate change, it is strongly required that an integrated earth system model combines climate, carbon cycle, and chemical composition of atmosphere. Coupling a dynamical Ice sheet model would be also needed for a better prediction of sea level change.