The two activities, however, are not identical even though the terms are often confused and used interchangeably. The strength of an IAM is its ability to calculate the consequences of different assumptions and to interrelate may factors simultaneously, but an IAM is constrained by the quality and character of the assumptions and data that underlie the model. Most climate change integrated assessment projects now under way are developing an integrated model. These models provide a very useful framework or methodology for organizing and assessing information and for conducting research. It is important to remember, however, that doing integrated assessment does not require building a model.
Models are tools, albeit, a very useful tool for organizing and assessing information.
In Search of Integrated Assessment includes a discussion on the differences between integrated assessment and integrated assessment modeling , and provides details on nineteen integrated assessment models . Integrated assessment models generally include both physical and social science models that consider demographic, political, and economic variables that affect greenhouse gas emission scenarios in addition to the physical climate system. Until computers become fast enough to significantly reduce computation times, IAMs will not be able to configure a full GCM into their model structure, and must rely on simpler forms of climate models to forecast changes in climate based on future scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions and other significant variables. For more information, see the Guide to General Circulation Models . Designing such a model is not possible.