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Title: Cloud feedbacks on greenhouse warming in the superparameterized climate model SP‐CCSM 4

Journal Article · · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014MS000355· OSTI ID:1237130
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Atmospheric Sciences University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
  2. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences, George Mason University Fairfax Virginia USA
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Abstract Cloud feedbacks on greenhouse warming are studied in a superparameterized version of the Community Climate System Model (SP‐CCSM4) in an atmospheric component SP‐CAM4 that explicitly simulates cumulus convection. A 150 year simulation in an abrupt quadrupling of CO 2 is branched from a control run. It develops moderate positive global cloud feedback and an implied climate sensitivity of 2.8 K comparable to the conventionally parameterized CCSM4 and the median of other modern climate models. All of SP‐CCSM4's positive shortwave cloud feedback is due to a striking decrease in low cloud over land, which is much more pronounced than in most other climate models, including CCSM4. Four other cloud responses – decreased midlevel cloud, more Arctic water and ice cloud, a slight poleward shift of midlatitude storm track cloud, and an upward shift of high clouds – are also typical of conventional global climate models. SP‐CCSM4 does not simulate the large warming‐induced decrease in Southern Ocean cloud found in CCSM4. Two companion uncoupled SP‐CAM4 simulations, one with a uniform 4 K sea‐surface temperature increase and one with quadrupled CO 2 but fixed SST, suggest that SP‐CCSM4's global‐scale cloud changes are primarily mediated by the warming, rather than by rapid adjustments to increased CO 2 . SP‐CAM4 show spatial patterns of cloud response qualitatively similar to the previous‐generation superparameterized SP‐CAM3, but with systematically more positive low cloud feedbacks over low‐latitude land and ocean.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1237130
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1237131
Journal Information:
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Vol. 6 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 1942-2466
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 21 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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