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can simulate horizontally averaged energy transfers. These models are help-
ful when climatologists are interested in understanding the uxes between
terrestrial and solar radiation that are constantly occurring throughout the
atmosphere. When heat rates are calculated for different levels in the atmo-
sphere, parameters such as cloud density, albedo, and atmospheric turbidity
are taken into account. The model can determine when the lapse rate exceeds
its stability and convection (the vertical mixing of the air) takes place—a
process called convective adjustment. RCMs are mainly used in studying
forcing perturbations, which have their origin within the atmosphere, such
as volcanic pollution. SDMs are usually 2-