Efficient three-dimensional global models for climate studies: models I and II

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Mon. Weather Rev.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0493(1983)111<0609:ETDGMF>2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:7120786

Hansen, J; Russell, G; Rind, D; Stone, P; Lacis, A; Lebedeff, S; Ruedy, R; Travis, L

A global atmospheric model is developed with a computational efficiency which allows long-range climate experiments. The model solves the simultaneous equations for conservation of mass, energy and momentum, and the equation of state on a grid. Differencing schemes for the dynamics are based on work of Arakawa. Cloud cover and vertical distribution are computed. Convection mixes moisture, heat and momentum, with buoyant air allowed to penetrate to a height determined by its buoyancy. Ground temperature calculations include diurnal variation and seasonal heat storage. Ground hydrology incorporates a water-holding capacity appropriate for the root zone of local vegetation. Snow depth is computed. Snow albedo includes effects of snow age and masking by vegetation. Surface fluxes are obtained from a drag-law formulation and parameterization of the Monin-Obukhov similarity relations. The initial Model I is used for 60 climate sensitivity experiments with integration times from 3 months to 5 years. These experiments determine the dependence of model simulation on various physical assumptions and model parameters. Several modifications are incorporated to produce Model II, the greatest changes arising from more realistic parameterization of the effect of boundary layer stratification on surface fluxes and the addition of friction in the top stratospheric layer to minimize effects of wave reflection from the rigid model top. The model's climate simulations are compared to observations and a brief study is made of effects of horizontal resolution. It is verified that the major features of global climate can be realistically simulated with a resolution as coarse as 1000 km, which requires an order of magnitude less computation time than used by most general circulation models. 93 references, 44 figures, 8 tables.

• Research Organization: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 7120786
• Journal Information: Mon. Weather Rev.; (United States), Vol. 111:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLIMATE MODELS
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
CLIMATES
GLOBAL ASPECTS
AEROSOLS
ALBEDO
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CLOUDS
COMPILED DATA
ENERGY TRANSFER
HYDROLOGY
MASS TRANSFER
MOISTURE
MOMENTUM TRANSFER
SNOW
SOLAR RADIATION
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
INFORMATION
LAYERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIATIONS
SOLS
STELLAR RADIATION
500100* - Environment
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