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1.
The mid-Holocene `green' Sahara represents the largest anomaly of the atmosphere-biosphere system during the last 12 000
years. Although this anomaly is attributed to precessional forcing leading to a strong enhancement of the African monsoon,
no climate model so far has been able to simulate the full extent of vegetation in the Sahara region 6000 years ago. Here
two atmospheric general circulation models (LMD 5.3 and ECHAM 3) are asynchronously coupled to an equilibrium biogeography
model to give steady-state simulations of climate and vegetation 6000 years ago, including biogeophysical feedback. The two
model results are surprisingly different, and neither is fully realistic. ECHAM shows a large northward extension of vegetation
in the western part of the Sahara only. LMD shows a much smaller and more zonal vegetation shift. These results are unaffected
by the choice of `green' or modern initial conditions. The inability of LMD to sustain a `green' Sahara 6000 years ago is
linked to the simulated strength of the tropical summer circulation. During the northern summer monsoon season, the meridional
gradient of sea-level pressure and subsidence over the western part of northern Africa are both much weaker in ECHAM than
in LMD in the present as well as the mid-Holocene. These features allow the surface moist air flux to penetrate further into
northern Africa in ECHAM than in LMD. This comparison illustrates the importance of correct simulation of atmospheric circulation
features for the sensitivity of climate models to changes in radiative forcing, particularly for regional climates where atmospheric
changes are amplified by biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks.
Received: 20 April 1999 / Accepted: 20 January 2000 相似文献
2.
Summary The impact of pronounced positive and negative sea surface temperature (STT) anomalies in the tropical Pacific associated with the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon on the atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics during the boreal winter season is investigated. This includes both the impact on the seasonal mean flow and on the intraseasonal variability on synoptic time scales. Moreover, the interaction between the transient fluctuations on these times scales and the mean circulation is examined. Both data from an ensemble of five simulations with the ECHAM3 atmospheric general circulation model at a horizontal resolution of T42 each covering the period from 1979 through 1992 and operational analyses from ECMWF for the corresponding period are examined. In each of the simulations observed SSTs for the period of investigation are given as lower boundary forcing, but different atmospheric initial conditions are prescribed.The simulations with ECHAM3 reveal a distinct impact of the pronounced SST-anomalies in the tropical Pacific on the atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere extratropics during El Niño as well as during La Niña events. These changes in the atmospheric circulation, which are found to be highly significant in the Pacific/North American as well as in the Atlantic/European region, are consistent with the essential results obtained from the analyses. The pronounced SST-anomalies in the tropical Pacific lead to changes in the mean circulation, which are characterized by typical circulation patterns. These changes in the mean circulation are accompanied by marked variations of the activity of the transient fluctuations on synoptic time scales, that are changes in both the kinetic energy on these time scales and the atmospheric transports of momentum and heat accomplished by the short baroclinic waves. The synoptic disturbances, on the other hand, play also an important role in controlling the changes in the mean circulation associated with the ENSO phenomenon. They maintain these typical circulation patterns via barotropic, but counteract them via baroclinic processes.The hypothesis of an impact of the ENSO phenomenon in the Atlantic/European region can be supported. As the determining factor the intensification (reduction) of the Aleutian low and the simultaneous reduction (intensification) of the Icelandic low during El Niño and during La Niña events respectively, is identified. The changes in the intensity of the Aleutian low during the ENSO-events are accompanied by an alteration of the transport of momentum caused by the short baroclinic waves over the North American continent in such a way that the changes in the intensity of the Icelandic low during El Niño as well as during La Niña events are maintained.With 16 Figures 相似文献
3.
Whendee L. Silver 《Climatic change》1998,39(2-3):337-361
Tropical forests are responsible for a large proportion of the global terrestrial C flux annually for natural ecosystems. Increased atmospheric CO2 and changes in climate are likely to affect the distribution of C pools in the tropics and the rate of cycling through vegetation and soils. In this paper, I review the literature on the pools and fluxes of carbon in tropical forests, and the relationship of these to nutrient cycling and climate. Tropical moist and humid forests have the highest rates of annual net primary productivity and the greatest carbon flux from soil respiration globally. Tropical dry forests have lower rates of carbon circulation, but may have greater soil organic carbon storage, especially at depths below 1 meter. Data from tropical elevation gradients were used to examine the sensitivity of biogeochemical cycling to incremental changes in temperature and rainfall. These data show significant positive correlations of litterfall N concentrations with temperature and decomposition rates. Increased atmospheric CO2 and changes in climate are expected to alter carbon and nutrient allocation patterns and storage in tropical forest. Modeling and experimental studies suggest that even a small increase in temperature and CO2 concentrations results in more rapid decomposition rates, and a large initial CO2 efflux from moist tropical soils. Soil P limitation or reductions in C:N and C:P ratios of litterfall could eventually limit the size of this flux. Increased frequency of fires in dry forest and hurricanes in moist and humid forests are expected to reduce the ecosystem carbon storage capacity over longer time periods. 相似文献
4.
Anthropogenic aerosols (AA) have significantly caused anomalous winter mean atmospheric circulation over the Northern Hemisphere, but the main daily patterns of winter large-scale circulation change are not well understood. Here a self-organizing map analysis is applied to identify the leading patterns in AA-induced winter daily geopotential height (Z) anomaly fields simulated by three atmospheric general circulation models, with a focus on fast adjustments. Two winter daily circulation response patterns with a synoptic time scale are found: one pattern shows concurring Z anomalies over North America and North Asia with the same sign and the Bering Sea seeing the opposite, resembling the Asia–Bering–North American teleconnection; while the other is the Arctic Oscillation-like pattern with similar Z anomalies over North Pacific and North Atlantic and the opposite over the Arctic region. The AA-induced anomalous precipitation over the tropics and anomalous synoptic eddy activities over the extratropical oceans concur to support and maintain these circulation anomaly patterns. The winter-mean climate responses to AA can be understood as a result of these daily anomaly patterns, especially over the higher latitudes. Specifically, the associated changes in surface air temperature (SAT) over the mid-high latitudes are caused by the AA-driven meridional movements of polar (cold and dry) airmass and midlatitude (warm and moist) airmass in the regions, mainly through the relevant surface downward longwave radiation. This study highlights the role of AA in altering daily weather patterns, which is not sufficiently captured by seasonal mean responses. 相似文献
5.
Kyu-Myong Kim William K.-M. Lau Yogesh C. Sud Gregory K. Walker 《Climate Dynamics》2010,35(1):115-126
Effects of aerosol radiative forcing on the diurnal and seasonal cycles of precipitation over West Africa and eastern Atlantic
Ocean are investigated for the boreal summer season: June–July–August. An eight year (2000–2007) average of GCM simulated
rainfall data is compared with the corresponding TRMM rainfall data. The comparison shows that the amplitude of the diurnal
cycles of rainfall over land and ocean are reasonably well simulated. Over land, the phase of the simulated diurnal cycle
of precipitation peaks several hours earlier than that of the TRMM data. Corresponding differences over the ocean(s) are relatively
smaller. Some of the key features of the aerosol induced model simulated field anomalies are: (a) aerosol direct radiative
forcing which increases the atmospheric stability and reduces the daytime moist convection and convective precipitation; (b)
the aerosol induced changes in the diurnal cycle of precipitation are out of phase with those of the TRMM data over land,
but are in-phase over the ocean; (c) aerosols reduce the amplitude of the diurnal cycle of precipitation over land and enhance
it over ocean. However, the phase of the diurnal cycle is not affected much by the aerosol radiative forcing both over land
and ocean. During the boreal summer, aerosol radiative forcing and induced circulation and precipitation cool the Sahel and
the southern part of Sahara desert more than the adjacent areas to the north and south, thereby shifting the peak meridional
temperature gradient northward. Consequently, an anomalous easterly jet is found north of its climatological location. This
anomalous jet is associated with increased cyclonic circulation to the south of its axis, resulting in an anomalous monsoon
rain belt in the Sahel. 相似文献
6.
Southern hemisphere atmospheric circulation: impacts on Antarctic climate and reconstructions from Antarctic ice core data 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
The atmospheric circulation patterns in the Southern Hemisphere have had a significant impact on the climate of the Antarctic and there is much evidence that these circulation patterns have changed in the recent past. This change is thought to have contributed to the warming trend observed at the Antarctic Peninsula over the last 50 years—one of the largest trends observed in this period on the planet. The trends associated with the continental Antarctic climate are less clear but are likely to be impacted less directly by atmospheric circulation changes. The circulation changes can be put into the context of longer timescales by considering atmospheric circulation reconstructions that have been performed using data from Antarctic ice cores. In this review paper we look at the main body of work examining: Antarctic climate trends; the understanding and impact of atmospheric circulation of the mid- to high-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere; and the usefulness and reliability of atmospheric circulation reconstructions from Antarctic ice core data. Finally, beyond several of the more quantitative reconstructions, it is deemed that an assessment of their consistency is not possible due to the variety of circulation characteristics that the various reconstructions consider. 相似文献
7.
热力强迫对湿斜压大气中南亚高压平衡态的影响 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
本文基于Lorenz的湿模式,引入地形效应并进行适当简化,在低谱近似下得到了描述大气运动的非线性耗散系统。讨论了在热力强迫与大气环流的非线性相互作用下,湿、斜压大气在参数空间的平衡态与南亚高压的流型分布及其东西摆动。结果表明:南亚高压典型的平衡态流型是西部型、东部型和带状高压,而且东西部流型的转换并非高压中心的连续位移,而是表现为一个高压中心消失后经过流场上的调整重新建立新的高压中心的过程。 相似文献
8.
Detection of climate change in Europe by analyzing European atmospheric circulation patterns from 1881 to 1989 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
Summary The time series of classified European atmospheric circulation patterns for the time period of 1881–1989 are analyzed. Frequencies of several circulation types changed considerably during the last years, showing extremes never reached before. Changes can be observed both in the annual frequencies and in the seasonal ones for many circulation types. The time series were analyzed for homogeneity using non-parametric statistical methods. The annual cycle shows an increase of the frequency of zonal circulations in winter (December and January) and a corresponding decrease of cold meridional circulations. The climatological consequences of this are more frequent mild and humid winters in Central Europe, with precipitation mostly falling as rain. Change points in the series occurred with high probability during the seventies. Examples demonstrate the coupling of circulation patterns to temperature and precipitation.With 9 Figures 相似文献
9.
The study deals with changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation (represented by circulation types) and associated surface air temperatures as projected in an ensemble of regional climate models (RCMs) from the ENSEMBLES project. We examine changes of circulation type frequencies and means of daily maximum and minimum temperatures within circulation types in individual seasons for two time slices of transient runs under the SRES A1B scenario (2021–2050 and 2071–2100) with respect to the control period (1961–1990). To study the influence of driving data, simulations of the driving general circulation models (GCMs) also are evaluated. We find that all models project changes of atmospheric circulation that are statistically significant for both future time slices. The models tend to project strengthening of the westerly circulation in winter and its weakening in summer. We show that increases of daily maximum and minimum temperatures in all seasons differ for individual circulation types. There are, however, only few features of the projected changes in the future circulation–temperature links that are common among the models, in particular relatively smaller warming for westerly types. Only in winter, projected changes in circulation types tend to contribute to the projected overall warming. This effect is negligible and mostly opposite in the other seasons. We also detect a strong influence of driving data on RCMs’ simulation of atmospheric circulation and temperature changes. 相似文献
10.
Gross moist stability, an effective static stability, in the tropics is examined in observations and model simulations. Under convective quasi-equilibrium closure, gross moist stability, a vertical integration of the vertical moist static energy gradient weighted by pressure velocity, is derived based on an approximately moist adiabatic process associated with deep convection. In climatology, gross moist stability is generally similar to the spatial distribution of mean precipitation. In global warming simulations, gross moist stability tends to increase in the tropics. It implies a more stable atmosphere, which is consistent with the weakening of tropical circulation found in climate models. Main effects, which induce the changes in gross moist stability, include the low-level moisture effect, the maximum level of convection (MLC) effect, i.e., the depth of deep convection, and the dry static energy effect associated with stratification of temperature, with the first two also found in climatology. Because of the strong cancellation between the effects of low-level moisture and dry static energy due to the moist adiabatic process of deep convection, the effect of MLC, which has been overlooked in measuring atmospheric stability, is crucial in determining the sign of changes in gross moist stability. Gross moist stability is a better index to represent changes in atmospheric stability in the tropics under global warming, compared to both dry and moist static stability. 相似文献
11.
The Weather Regional Forecast (WRF) model is used in this study to downscale low-resolution data over West Africa. First, the performance of the regional model is estimated through contemporary period experiments (1981?C1990) forced by ARPEGE-CLIMAT GCM output (ARPEGE) and ERA-40 re-analyses. Key features of the West African monsoon circulation are reasonably well represented. WRF atmospheric dynamics and summer rainfall compare better to observations than ARPEGE forcing data. WRF simulated moisture transport over West Africa is also consistent in both structure and variability with re-analyses, emphasizing the substantial role played by the West African Monsoon (WAM) and African Easterly Jet (AEJ) flows. The statistical significance of potential climate changes for the A2 scenario between 2032 and 2041 is enhanced in the downscaling from ARPEGE by the regional experiments, with substantial rainfall increases over the Guinea Gulf and eastern Sahel. Future scenario WRF simulations are characterized by higher temperatures over the eastern Tropical Atlantic suggesting more evaporation available locally. This leads to increased moisture advection towards eastern regions of the Guinea Gulf where rainfall is enhanced through a strengthened WAM flow, supporting surface moisture convergence over West Africa. Warmer conditions over both the Mediterranean region and northeastern Sahel could also participate in enhancing moisture transport within the AEJ. The strengthening of the thermal gradient between the Sahara and Guinean regions, particularly pronounced north of 10°N, would support an intensification of the AEJ northwards, given the dependance of the jet to the position/intensity of the meridional gradient. In turn, mid-tropospheric moisture divergence tends to be favored within the AEJ region supporting southwards deflection of moist air and contributing to deep moist convection over the Sahel where late summer rainfall regimes are sustained in the context of the A2 scenario regional projections. In conclusion, WRF proved to be a valuable and efficient tool to help downscaling GCM projections over West Africa, and thus assessing issues such as water resources vulnerability locally. 相似文献
12.
Sonali P. Shukla Mark A. Chandler David Rind Linda E. Sohl Jeff Jonas Jean Lerner 《Climate Dynamics》2011,37(9-10):1869-1887
Migrations toward altered sea surface temperature (SST) patterns in the Indo-Pacific region are present in the recent observational record and in future global warming projections. These SSTs are in the form of ??permanent?? El Ni?o-like (herein termed ??El Padre??) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)-like patterns. The Early Pliocene Warm Period, which bears similarity to future warming projections, may have also exhibited these Indo-Pacific SST patterns, as suggested by regional terrestrial paleo-climatic data and general circulation model studies. The ability to corroborate this assessment with paleo-data reconstructions is an advantage of the warm Pliocene period that is not afforded by future warming scenarios. Thus, the Pliocene period provides us with a warm-climate perspective and test bed for understanding potential changes to future atmospheric interactions given these altered SST states. This study specifically assesses how atmospheric teleconnections from El Padre/IOD SST patterns are generated and propagate to create the regional climate signals of the Pliocene period, as these signals may be representative of future regional climatic changes as well. To do this, we construct a holistic diagnostic rubric that allows us to examine atmospheric teleconnections, both energetically and dynamically, as produced by a general circulation model. We incorporate KE??, a diagnostic adapted from the eddy kinetic energy generation field, to assess the available energy transferred to these teleconnections. Using this methodology, we found that relative to our Modern Control experiments, weaker atmospheric teleconnections prevail under warm Pliocene conditions, although pathways of propagation still appear directed toward the southwestern United States from our tropical Pacific sector forcing. Propagation directly emanating from the Indian Ocean forcing sector appears to be largely blocked, although indirect teleconnective pathways appear traversing the Asian continent toward the North Pacific. The changes in the atmospheric circulation of Indian Ocean region in response to the underlying specified SST forcing (and indicated by Pliocene paleo-data) may have a host of implications for energy transfer out of and into the region, including interactions with the Asian jet stream and changes to the seasonal monsoon cycle. These interactions warrant further study in both past and future warm climate scenarios. 相似文献
13.
Synoptic-scale atmospheric circulation patterns drive wind forcing of dynamic and thermodynamic processes in Arctic sea ice. Synoptic typing and compositing are common techniques used to identify a limited number of prevailing weather classifications that govern a region's climate. This work investigates atmospheric circulation patterns (surface to 250?hPa) for the southern Beaufort Sea and corresponding surface wind regimes within each synoptic type. Significant changes (p?<?0.05) in relative frequencies of a number of synoptic types were attributed to declining summer sea ice. Corresponding upper-level circulation anomalies show increasingly meridional atmospheric circulation. Synoptic Types 9 and 11 were identified as key October-November-December circulation features that represent deepening of the Aleutian low with concomitant strengthening of pressure gradients over the southern Beaufort Sea. Classification of coastal-based wind observations shows a shift towards increased easterly wind forcing. A case study of surface wind data from the CCGS Amundsen (2009–2011) provided a direct example of the surface wind regime within the marginal ice zone within each synoptic type during a period of reduced Arctic sea-ice cover. 相似文献
14.
沙漠-绿洲大气边界层结构的数值模拟 总被引：14，自引：6，他引：8
利用美国NCAR新版中尺度MM5V3．6非静力平衡模式,采用三重嵌套的模拟方法,模拟研究了沙漠绿洲的环流及边界层特征。结果表明：在没有西风气流背景的影响下,绿洲沙漠环流和大气边界层结构是对称的。沙漠绿洲改变了原有沙漠地区环流结构及温、湿场的分布,绿洲上空大气下沉,沙漠上空大气上升,从而产生了绿洲上空大气冷干,沙漠上空大气暖湿的边界层特征。绿洲边缘形成了由干到湿的强湿度梯度带围绕着绿洲,起到了保护绿洲的作用。在有西风背景气流的影响下,绿洲沙漠环流和大气边界层结构是非对称的。但是,西风背景气流的存在可以破坏绿洲系统对称的环流结构,不利于绿洲系统的稳定发展。 相似文献
15.
Changes of atmospheric circulation in central Europe and their influence on climatic trends in the Czech Republic 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
This work deals with the influence of changes of atmospheric circulation on observed trends of 11 climatic elements at 21 stations in the Czech Republic in the period 1961–1998. Atmospheric circulation in central Europe is described by the German (Hess-Brezowsky) and Czech-Slovak (Brádka’s) subjective catalogues of synoptic types. In the study period there is a strong downward trend in the occurrence of anticyclonic types in Brádka’s catalogue in all seasons, this trend being most prominent in autumn. Westerly and northwesterly types become more frequent in autumn and winter, less frequent in spring and summer under both classifications. In the Hess-Brezowsky catalogue, the occurrence of anticyclonic types increases in winter, spring, and summer. To assess the effect of circulation changes on observed climate trends we have used the method of “hypothetical” seasonal trends that are calculated from a daily series, constructed by assigning the long-term monthly average of the given climatic element under a specific circulation type to each day classified with this type. The ratio of these circulation-conditioned trends and observed seasonal trends shows that changes in atmospheric circulation are the primary cause of massive winter warming and autumn cooling, which is connected with increasing precipitation and humidity. Summer climate trends are unrelated to changes in atmospheric circulation. Simultaneous use of more circulation classifications for the detection of climatic changes is highly recommended, as the long-term circulation trends depend on the catalogue applied. 相似文献
16.
Recent variations in 700 hPa geopotential heights in summer over Europe and the Middle East,and their influence on other Meteorological factors 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
Summary Recent variations in atmospheric circulation in the eastern Mediterranean are analyzed and discussed. Interdecadal differences in mean monthly 700 hPa geopotential heights for June, July, and August in the period 1951–1980 show a trend of decreasing pressure of the subtropical high pressure belt over the Sahara Desert. The decrease is observed in the magnitude of the high pressure, in its areal extent, and in its northward position. Broader variations in other meteorological variables, such as rainfall regimes, temperature fields, wind variability, and evapotranspiration rates, are discussed in relation to variations in pressure fields and in indices of circulation such as the North Atlantic Oscillation. The trend from the 1950s through the 1970s was towards more temperate summer climate in the region.With 5 Figures 相似文献
17.
Interannual and Interdecadal Variations in Atmospheric Circulation Factors and Rainfall in China and Their Relationship 总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4
Wavelet analysis is used to study the interannual and interdecadal variations of rainfall in China and atmospheric circulation factors, including the key atmospheric oscillations, W, C, E patterns and subtropical high. Regression analysis and correlation analysis are both used to study the relationship of atmospheric circulation factors and China rainfall on different time scale and spatial scale. The results are as follows: (1) The variations of atmospheric circulation and rainfall in China are characterized by interannual and interdecadal scales. The variations of atmospheric circulation and rainfall are composed of interannual and interdecadal variations. It is necessary to separate those two time scales when climate changes and forecast are studied. (2) The variations of China rainfall are due to the interaction of multi-factors rather than single factors. The marked factors which influence the interannual and interdecadal variations are various. Subtropical high is one of the marked factors which influence interannual variations of rainfall, while AO, NAO, and NPO are one of the marked factors which influence interdecadal variations of rainfall. (3) The longer the time scale is, and the larger the spatial scale is, and the more remarkable the relationships between atmospheric circulation and rainfall are. 相似文献
18.
AbstractThe impact of cloud representation on the simulation of mid-latitude recurrent large-scale flows and forecast skill of mid-latitude atmospheric teleconnections is evaluated using the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4), and the super-parameterized CCSM4 (SP-CCSM4). Patterns of low-level atmospheric circulation anomalies and convection associated with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) are affected by the method used for the representation of cloud processes. The configuration of the model using super-parameterization for the representation of cloud processes produces MJO-related patterns that agree better with observations than the configuration of the model using a conventional cloud parameterization scheme. The recurrent circulation regimes of the mid-latitudes are also sensitive to the representation of cloud processes. In the North Atlantic sector, the inability of CCSM4 to simulate the Scandinavian blocking regime is corrected in the super-parameterized version of the model. In the North Pacific sector, the strength of the clustering (measured by a variance ratio) is too large in CCSM4 compared with observations and SP-CCSM4. The SP-CCSM4 model has better forecast skill for the MJO amplitude and phase than the model with conventional representation of moist convective processes. In turn, the improved forecast skill of the super-parameterized model results in better forecast skill for mid-latitude teleconnections in 500 hPa geopotential height anomalies forced by the MJO convection. 相似文献
19.
We present an analysis of climate change over Europe as simulated by a regional climate model (RCM) nested within time-slice atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) experiments. Changes in mean and interannual variability are discussed for the 30-year period of 2071–2100 with respect to the present day period of 1961–1990 under forcing from the A2 and B2 IPCC emission scenarios. In both scenarios, the European region undergoes substantial warming in all seasons, in the range of 1–5.5°C, with the warming being 1–2°C lower in the B2 than in the A2 scenario. The spatial patterns of warming are similar in the two scenarios, with a maximum over eastern Europe in winter and over western and southern Europe in summer. The precipitation changes in the two scenarios also show similar spatial patterns. In winter, precipitation increases over most of Europe (except for the southern Mediterranean regions) due to increased storm activity and higher atmospheric water vapor loadings. In summer, a decrease in precipitation is found over most of western and southern Europe in response to a blocking-like anticyclonic circulation over the northeastern Atlantic which deflects summer storms northward. The precipitation changes in the intermediate seasons (spring and fall) are less pronounced than in winter and summer. Overall, the intensity of daily precipitation events predominantly increases, often also in regions where the mean precipitation decreases. Conversely the number of wet days decreases (leading to longer dry periods) except in the winter over western and central Europe. Cloudiness, snow cover and soil water content show predominant decreases, in many cases also in regions where precipitation increases. Interannual variability of both temperature and precipitation increases substantially in the summer and shows only small changes in the other seasons. A number of statistically significant regional trends are found throughout the scenario simulations, especially for temperature and for the A2 scenario. The results from the forcing AGCM simulations and the nested RCM simulations are generally consistent with each other at the broad scale. However, significant differences in the simulated surface climate changes are found between the two models in the summer, when local physics processes are more important. In addition, substantial fine scale detail in the RCM-produced change signal is found in response to local topographical and coastline features. 相似文献
20.
The planetary boundary layer turbulence and moist convection parameterizations have been modified recently in the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies(GISS) Model E2 atmospheric general circulation model(GCM; post-CMIP5,hereafter P5). In this study, single column model(SCM P5) simulated cloud fractions(CFs), cloud liquid water paths(LWPs)and precipitation were compared with Atmospheric Radiation Measurement(ARM) Southern Great Plains(SGP) groundbased observations made during the period 2002–08. CMIP5 SCM simulations and GCM outputs over the ARM SGP region were also used in the comparison to identify whether the causes of cloud and precipitation biases resulted from either the physical parameterization or the dynamic scheme. The comparison showed that the CMIP5 SCM has difficulties in simulating the vertical structure and seasonal variation of low-level clouds. The new scheme implemented in the turbulence parameterization led to significantly improved cloud simulations in P5. It was found that the SCM is sensitive to the relaxation time scale. When the relaxation time increased from 3 to 24 h, SCM P5-simulated CFs and LWPs showed a moderate increase(10%–20%) but precipitation increased significantly(56%), which agreed better with observations despite the less accurate atmospheric state. Annual averages among the GCM and SCM simulations were almost the same, but their respective seasonal variations were out of phase. This suggests that the same physical cloud parameterization can generate similar statistical results over a long time period, but different dynamics drive the differences in seasonal variations. This study can potentially provide guidance for the further development of the GISS model. 相似文献