An upwelling diffusion (UD) model has been fitted to the results of a globally coupled ocean atmosphere general circulation model (O/AGCM). In order to adequately simulate the results of the O/AGCM, the differential heating over land and ocean, the change of the upwelling rate with rising mixed-layer temperature and the climate adjustment of the O/AGCM evident in the control simulation had to be taken into account. Comparisons using the results of four O/AGCM perturbation experiments show that the timing of the adjustment in the O/AGCM control run differs from that in the perturbed runs. The UD model simulates the global mean temperature evolution, as calculated by the O/AGCM reasonably well. However, when time dependent upwelling is included, the UD model substantially overestimates the thermal expansion compared to this O/AGCM. Possible reasons for this overestimation have been identified. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1996