Regional and Teleconnected Impacts of Solar Radiation‐Topography Interaction Over the Tibetan Plateau

Journal Article · 15 December 2023 · Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106293 · OSTI ID:2224128

Hao, Dalei  ^[1]; Bisht, Gautam  ^[1]; Gu, Yu  ^[2]; Leung, L. Ruby  ^[1]

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1. Atmospheric, Climate, &, Earth Sciences Division Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland WA USA
2. Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science and Engineering and Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles CA USA

Abstract Solar radiation‐topography interaction plays an important role in surface energy balance over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the impacts of such interaction over the TP on climate locally and in the Asian regions remain unclear. This study uses the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) to evaluate the regional and teleconnected impacts of solar radiation‐topography interaction over the TP. Land‐atmosphere coupled experiments show that topography regulates the surface energy balance, snow processes, and surface climate over the TP across seasons. Accounting for solar radiation‐topography interaction improves E3SM simulation of surface climate. The winter cold bias in air temperature decreases from −4.57 to −3.79 K, and the wet bias in summer precipitation is mitigated in southern TP. The TP's solar radiation‐topography interaction further reduces the South and East Asian summer precipitation biases. Our results demonstrate the topographic roles in regional climate over the TP and highlight its teleconnected climate impacts.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 2224128
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-190228; e2023GL106293
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 50; ISSN 0094-8276
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English