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On the intra-seasonal variability within the extratropics in the ECHAM3 general circulation model

Abstract

First we consider the GCM`s capability to reproduce the midlatitude variability on intra-seasonal time scales by a comparison with observational data (ECMWF analyses). Secondly we assess the possible influence of Sea Surface Temperatures on the intra-seasonal variability by comparing estimates obtained from different simulations performed with ECHAM3 with varying and fixed SST as boundary forcing. The intra-seasonal variability as simulated by ECHAM3 is underestimated over most of the Northern Hemisphere. While the contributions of the high-frequency transient fluctuations are reasonably well captured by the model, ECHAM3 fails to reproduce the observed level of low-frequency intra-seasonal variability. This is mainly due to the underestimation of the variability caused by the ultra-long planetary waves in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes by the model. In the Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes, on the other hand, the intra-seasonal variability as simulated by ECHAM3 is generally underestimated in the area north of about 50 southern latitude, but overestimated at higher latitudes. This is the case for the contributions of the high-frequency and the low-frequency transient fluctuations as well. Further, the model indicates a strong tendency for zonal symmetry, in particular with respect to the high-frequency transient fluctuations. While the two sets of simulations with varying and fixed Sea  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Oct 01, 1994
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
INIS-mf-15097
Reference Number:
SCA: 540110; PA: DEN-95:0F3138; EDB-95:046352; SN: 95001351564
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Oct 1994
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS; SEASONAL VARIATIONS; EARTH ATMOSPHERE; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; NORTHERN HEMISPHERE; SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE; CALCULATION METHODS; 540110; BASIC STUDIES
OSTI ID:
10125535
Research Organizations:
Max-Planck-Institut fuer Meteorologie, Hamburg (Germany)
Country of Origin:
Germany
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE95752249; TRN: DE95F3138
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
DEN
Size:
210 p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 04, 2005

Citation Formats

May, W. On the intra-seasonal variability within the extratropics in the ECHAM3 general circulation model. Germany: N. p., 1994. Web.
May, W. On the intra-seasonal variability within the extratropics in the ECHAM3 general circulation model. Germany.
May, W. 1994. "On the intra-seasonal variability within the extratropics in the ECHAM3 general circulation model." Germany.
@misc{etde_10125535,
title = {On the intra-seasonal variability within the extratropics in the ECHAM3 general circulation model}
author = {May, W}
abstractNote = {First we consider the GCM`s capability to reproduce the midlatitude variability on intra-seasonal time scales by a comparison with observational data (ECMWF analyses). Secondly we assess the possible influence of Sea Surface Temperatures on the intra-seasonal variability by comparing estimates obtained from different simulations performed with ECHAM3 with varying and fixed SST as boundary forcing. The intra-seasonal variability as simulated by ECHAM3 is underestimated over most of the Northern Hemisphere. While the contributions of the high-frequency transient fluctuations are reasonably well captured by the model, ECHAM3 fails to reproduce the observed level of low-frequency intra-seasonal variability. This is mainly due to the underestimation of the variability caused by the ultra-long planetary waves in the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes by the model. In the Southern Hemisphere midlatitudes, on the other hand, the intra-seasonal variability as simulated by ECHAM3 is generally underestimated in the area north of about 50 southern latitude, but overestimated at higher latitudes. This is the case for the contributions of the high-frequency and the low-frequency transient fluctuations as well. Further, the model indicates a strong tendency for zonal symmetry, in particular with respect to the high-frequency transient fluctuations. While the two sets of simulations with varying and fixed Sea Surface Temepratures as boundary forcing reveal only small regional differences in the Southern Hemisphere, there is a strong response to be found in the Northern Hemisphere. The contributions of the high-frequency transient fluctuations to the intra-seasonal variability are generally stronger in the simulations with fixed SST. Further, the Pacific storm track is shifted slightly poleward in this set of simulations. For the low-frequency intra-seasonal variability the model gives a strong, but regional response to the interannual variations of the SST. (orig.)}
place = {Germany}
year = {1994}
month = {Oct}
}