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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Zonal statistics in (general circulation model) GCM/GCM/Data intercomparisons

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6294075
Comparisons of general circulation model (GCM) results with each other and with climate data are routinely made on a variety of spatial scales. In bridging the gap from larger scale behavior (global, hemispheric) to the regional, zonal statistics are commonly used. Here, statistics are developed using values at all longitudinal gridpoints at a specified latitude and these are displayed as a function of latitude. The zonal average is the most routinely used of these statistics, but there are many other statistics available, few of which are ever examined. These provide a rich array of diagnostic measures for intercomparing models with each other and with observational data. Several of these measures are explored here: (1) histograms or boxplots displaying the detailed distributions, (2) rms or average absolute pointwise differences between model and data sets and (3) cross correlations and auto correlations. 5 figs.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/DP
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6294075
Report Number(s):
UCRL-JC-105745; CONF-9010277--2; ON: DE91006706
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English