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Title: Climate simulations and projections with a super-parameterized climate model

Journal Article · · Environmental Modelling and Software
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The mean climate and its variability are analyzed in a suite of numerical experiments with a fully coupled general circulation model in which subgrid-scale moist convection is explicitly represented through embedded 2D cloud-system resolving models. Control simulations forced by the present day, fixed atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration are conducted using two horizontal resolutions and validated against observations and reanalyses. The mean state simulated by the higher resolution configuration has smaller biases. Climate variability also shows some sensitivity to resolution but not as uniform as in the case of mean state. The interannual and seasonal variability are better represented in the simulation at lower resolution whereas the subseasonal variability is more accurate in the higher resolution simulation. The equilibrium climate sensitivity of the model is estimated from a simulation forced by an abrupt quadrupling of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. The equilibrium climate sensitivity temperature of the model is 2.77 °C, and this value is slightly smaller than the mean value (3.37 °C) of contemporary models using conventional representation of cloud processes. As a result, the climate change simulation forced by the representative concentration pathway 8.5 scenario projects an increase in the frequency of severe droughts over most of the North America.

Research Organization:
George Mason Univ., Fairfax, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0006722
OSTI ID:
1198147
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1163540
Report Number(s):
DOE-GMU-001; S1364815214001789; PII: S1364815214001789
Journal Information:
Environmental Modelling and Software, Journal Name: Environmental Modelling and Software Vol. 60 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 1364-8152
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 34 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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58 GEOSCIENCES
super-parameterization
global modeling
climate sensitivity
climate change