Other compounds included in particular models due to their radiative properties are methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and aerosols. While the bulk of the earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen and oxygen, these gases are not important to radiation schemes because they are almost entirely transparent to short and longwave radiation. It takes into account absorption by ozone, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and clouds. Also included is ground surface and cloud surface reflection due to their respective albedos. The ozone and carbon dioxide distribution profiles for the scheme are based on seasonal climatological data.
Snow cover is derived from climatology and is accounted for as a modification to the surface albedo.
It, like the Lacis and Hansen shortwave model, takes into account how water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, and clouds absorb and emit longwave radiation. In producing clouds, the GSM uses an interactive cloud simulation that is diagnosed from the predicted relative humidity of the environment. Cloud coverage is important in considering reflection and absorption of short- and longwave radiation, and emission of longwave radiation. Cloud reflection and absorption are assigned according to cloud height and type. Longwave emission by clouds is also determined by height and type, but is also affected by latitude.