SENSITIVITY EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL-MODELS USING FRACTIONAL FACTORIAL EXPERIMENTATION

The method of fractional factorial numerical experimentation is descri bed which permits identification of important model factors (i.e. para meters plus variables) and, perhaps more importantly, the potential in teractions between two or more factors - not possible with traditional sensitivity testing. Factorial experiments are then reviewed for a nu mber of environmental modelling areas: inclusion of land surface schem es into global climate models, atmospheric plume rise and lake stratif ication.