Understanding the Significant Disparity between Observations and CMIP5 Model Simulations at the Ocean/Atmosphere Interface in the Tropics.
Abstract
Observations indicate that the warming of the tropical atmosphere is proceeding at a rate significantly less than model computations. In order to investigate this disparity, this study examines the surface energy fluxes at the ocean-atmosphere interface using a suite of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5) models comparing with observations. Surface energy fluxes play a central role in the coupling of the atmosphere and ocean components. Observations tests model fidelity with respect to the surface energy fluxes (net shortwave, net longwave, latent heat flux, and sensible heat flux), spatially and temporally. While results show that the multi-model means of each component are similar to observations, the spatial distribution and magnitudes are significantly different. Further, there is considerable range across individual CMIP5 models.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017AGUFMGC21D0965J
- Keywords:
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- 1610 Atmosphere;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 1616 Climate variability;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 1635 Oceans;
- GLOBAL CHANGE;
- 1655 Water cycles;
- GLOBAL CHANGE