Intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models

Journal Article · Thu Sep 20 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD10p16601· OSTI ID:6061668

Cess, R D ^[1]; Potter, G L; Gates, W L; Ghan, S J; Taylor, K E ^[2]; Blanchet, J P; Boer, G J ^[3]; Del Genio, A D; Lacis, A A ^[4]; Deque, M; Royer, J F ^[5]; Kiehl, J T; Slingo, A; Washington, W M ^[6]; Le Treut, H; Li, Z X ^[7]; Liang, X Z; Zhang, M H ^[8]; McAvaney, B J; Rikus, L ^[9] ; Meleshko, V P; Sheinin, D A; Sokolov, A P ^[10]; Mitchell, J F.B. ^[11]; Morcrette, J J ^[12]

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1. State Univ. of New York, Stony Brook (USA)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
3. Canadian Climate Centre, Downsview, Ontario (Canada)
4. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY (USA)
5. Direction de la Meteorologie Nationale, Toulouse (France)
6. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (USA)
7. Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique, Paris (France)
8. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Beijing (China)
9. Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre, Melbourne (Australia)
10. Main Geophysical Observatory, Leningrad (USSR)
11. United Kingdom Meteorological Office, Bracknell (England)
12. European Centre for Medium-Rang

The need to understand differences among general circulation model projections of CO{sub 2}-induced climatic change has motivated the present study, which provides an intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models. This intercomparison uses sea surface temperature change as a surrogate for climate change. The interpretation of cloud-climate interactions is given special attention. A roughly threefold variation in one measure of global climate sensitivity is found among the 19 models. The important conclusion is that most of this variation is attributable to differences in the models depiction of cloud feedback, a result that emphasizes the need for improvements in the treatment of clouds in these models if they are ultimately to be used as reliable climate predictors. It is further emphasized that cloud feedback is the consequence of all interacting physical and dynamic processes in a general circulation model. The result of these processes is to produce changes in temperature, moisture distribution, and clouds which are integrated into the radiative response termed cloud feedback.

• DOE Contract Number: FG02-85ER60314; W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6061668
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 95:D10; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATES
CLOUDS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
FORECASTING
FUNCTIONS
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MOISTURE
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARAMETRIC ANALYSIS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SEAS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
SURFACE WATERS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
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