Validation of model improvements for the GISS GCM

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Climate Dynamics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s003820050041· OSTI ID:241229

Marengo, J A; Druyan, L M ^[1]

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1. NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY (United States)

The general circulation model of the NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS GCM) was designed primarily for global climate change and climate sensitivity applications. The modelling group at GISS has developed new and more physically appropriate parameterizations of meteorological/hydrological processes which are being validated in an effort to improve the performance of the Model II version of the GISS GCM. This study discusses some preliminary evaluations of this testing based on multiple-year simulations at 4{degrees}latitude by 5{degrees}longitude horizontal resolution. These runs individually incorporate new formulations of the planetary boundary laver (PBL), the moist comulus convection scheme and the ground hydrology and compare results using B-grid and C-grid numerics. The new PBL produces a realistically stronger tropical surface circulation, while the new cumulus scheme generates more realistic distributions of tropical convection and moisture. The main impact of the more sophisticated ground hydrology model is to increase surface air temperatures. Improvements in modelled sea level pressure and rainfall features by the C-grid are somewhat offset by increases in speed excesses at the cores of the summer hemisphere westerly jets. Each modelling innovation targeted a different aspect of the climate not adequately represented by Model II. However, since the various modelling changes were tested individually, the present evaluation could not demonstrate many dramatic improvements in the simulated climates. This documentation of impacts should, however serve as a benchmark for the validation of future simulations of the GISS GCM that combine all of the modelling improvements. 34 refs., 8 figs.

• OSTI ID: 241229
• Journal Information: Climate Dynamics, Journal Name: Climate Dynamics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 10; ISSN 0930-7575; ISSN CLDYEM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
VALIDATION