Title: Advantages of a variable‐resolution global climate model in reproducing the seasonal evolution of East Asian summer monsoon

Abstract

Abstract The East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is unique among monsoon systems that it features meridional evolution of the summer monsoon. In this study, we evaluate the performances of a Variable‐Resolution Community Earth System Model (VR‐CESM) regionally refined over eastern China (14 km) in reproducing the seasonal evolution of EASM precipitation over China. Compared with reference datasets, VR‐CESM shows better performance than the corresponding globally uniform coarse‐resolution model CESM (quasi‐uniform 1°), especially over western China where complex local topography exists. The northward monsoon migration is closely related to low‐level southerly flows and vertical moisture advection, which are more reasonably simulated in VR‐CESM. The four critical timings of the EASM (monsoon onset, withdrawal, peak, and duration) are also better captured in VR‐CESM than in CESM. The corresponding spatial Pearson correlation coefficients of the four critical timings with respect to reference datasets are about 0.1 higher in VR‐CESM than those in CESM. Both models are most accurate in simulating monsoon onset and least accurate at simulating the monsoon peak. The overestimated zonal thermal contrast in CESM is responsible for the earlier monsoon onset and excessive precipitation in September over the Yangtze River valley. Finer resolution in VR‐CESM, especially over the Tibetan Plateau (TP),more » appears to be a main factor in simulating better zonal thermal contrast and seasonal evolution of the EASM.« less

Authors:

Zhu, Haonan  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Zhu, Haonan"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-7703-5565"

Zhang, Jie  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Zhang, Jie"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-8925-1011"

Xu, Zexuan ^[3]; Di Vittorio, Alan V. ^[3]; Xin, Xiaoge  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Xin, Xiaoge"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9712-5368"

Xiao, Chan ^[4]; Li, Yonghua ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Chongqing Climate Center Chongqing China
2. CMA Earth System Modeling and Prediction Centre Beijing China, State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather Beijing China
3. Climate and Ecosystem Science Division Lawerence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley California USA
4. Beijing Climate Center China Meteorological Administration Beijing China

Publication Date:

Fri Jul 22 00:00:00 EDT 2022

Research Org.:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Key Research and Development Program of China

OSTI Identifier:

1877711

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1877714; OSTI ID: 1893346

Grant/Contract Number:  

DE‐IA0000018; AC02-05CH11231; 2018YFE0196000; IA0000018

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

International Journal of Climatology

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: International Journal of Climatology Journal Volume: 43 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0899-8418

Publisher:

Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Subject:

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; East Asian summer monsoon; low-level circulation; resolution; seasonal evolution; thermal contrast; VR-CESM