Low-frequency variability of surface air temperature in a 1000-year integration of a coupled atmosphere-ocean-land surface model
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
The study analyzes the variability of surface air temperature (SAT) and sea surface temperature (SST) obtained from a 1000-yr integration of a coupled atmosphere-ocean-land surface model, which consists of general circulation models of the atmosphere and oceans and heat and water budget model of land surface. It also explores the role of oceans in maintaining the variability of SAT by comparing the long-term integration of the coupled model with those of two simpler models. They are (1) a {open_quotes}mixed layer model,{close_quotes} that is, the general circulation model of the atmosphere combined with a simple slab model of the mixed layer ocean, and (2) a {open_quotes}fixed SST model,{close_quotes} that is, the same atmosphere model overlying seasonally varying, prescribed SST. With the exception of the tropical Pacific, both the coupled and mixed layer models are capable of approximately simulating the standard deviations of observed annual and 5-yr-mean anomalies of local SAT. It appears significant that not only the coupled model but also the mixed layer model without ocean currents can approximately simulate the power spectrum of observed, global mean SAT at decadal to interdecadal time-scales. However, neither model generates a sustained, long-term warming trend of significant magnitude such as that observed since the end of the last century. 44 refs., 19 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 379132
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Climate, Vol. 9, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Dynamical response of the oceanic circulation and temperature to interdecadal variability in the surface winds over the Indian Ocean
Interactions between global SST anomalies and the midlatitude atmospheric circulation