国家气候中心两个CMIP6模式模拟的东亚夏季风的季节内演变

分析了国家气候中心两个参加第六次国际耦合模式比较计划（CMIP6）的模式BCC-CSM2-MR和BCC-ESM1对东亚夏季风季节内演变的模拟情况,包括气候态特征以及在ENSO（El Ni?o and Southern Oscillation）循环不同位相下的特征。本文同时对比分析了观测海温海冰驱动大气环流模式试验（AMIP试验）以及耦合模式的历史气候模拟试验（Historical试验）的结果。结果表明,模式能够合理地模拟出东亚夏季风环流和降水的气候态特征。相比大气模式,耦合模式能够明显改善对气候态的模拟,特别是耦合模式能够较好地模拟出副热带高压从6～8月向北以及向东移动的季节内演变特征。对于El Ni?o衰减年和La Ni?a年合成来说,大气模式能够在一定程度上模拟出El Ni?o衰减年（La Ni?a年）副高偏西（东）、对流减弱（增强）的特征,但是对于位置和强度的模拟存在偏差,特别是对于其季节内尺度的演变。耦合模式相比大气模式来说,并没有改善对于ENSO循环影响东亚夏季风季节内演变的模拟,这可能和耦合模式模拟的ENSO本身的偏差有关。因此要想改善对于东亚夏季风季节内演变及其年际差异的模拟,除了考虑海气相互作用之外,还需要改进模式对于ENSO的模拟效果。     

Effects of air-sea coupling on the eastward propagating boreal winter intraseasonal oscillation over the tropical Indian Ocean

本文通过分析比较SINTEX-F海气耦合模式两组试验(一组是热带海洋大气和海洋完全耦合,一组是除了印度洋外,其它海洋有海气耦合)模拟结果,研究冬季印度洋海气耦合对季节内振荡(MJO)向东传播的影响。当冬季印度洋有海气耦合时,海温异常的非对称分布会加强沿着5°S-10°S纬带上的向东传播的MJO。当暖的海温总是出现在对流的东侧时,其会导致边界层异常辐合,使得水汽增加,有利于对流向东传播。另外,冬季印度洋海温的年际变化可以调制海气耦合对东传MJO的影响效果,负(正)印度洋偶极子年和正(负)印度洋海盆年海气耦合对MJO起了增强(减弱)的作用。这主要是印度洋海温的年际变化可以导致背景风场的变化,通过风-海温-蒸发反馈机制,增加或减少水汽的纬向非对称性,进而增强或减弱MJO的向东传播。     

耦合模式FGOALS_s模拟的东亚夏季风

本文评估了中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学和地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室的海气耦合模式FGOALS_s对东亚夏季风的模拟能力, 并通过与观测海温强迫下单独大气模式SAMIL试验结果的比较, 分析了海气耦合过程对模式性能的影响。结果表明, FGOALS_s基本能够模拟出东亚夏季风系统的气候态分布及其演变过程, 但也存在明显偏差, 主要表现为模拟的温度场在对流层中上层一致性偏冷, 导致模式中环流系统强度偏弱; 而温度经向梯度模拟的不足, 直接影响到东亚副热带西风急流的模拟。通过与观测海温强迫下SAMIL模拟结果的对比发现, SAMIL模拟的温度场、 环流场以及风场较之耦合模式结果更接近观测, 但也存在与FGOALS_s类似的模式偏差。因此, 大气模式固有的偏差对耦合模式的模拟偏差有重要影响。分析发现, 对于西太平洋降水的模拟而言, 耦合模式结果更加合理, 表明海气相互作用过程对模式性能有重要影响。本文的结果表明, 大气模式自身的误差是导致耦合模式误差的主要原因。通过更新云－辐射模块改进大气模式模拟的温度场, 应是FGOALS_s后续发展的首要工作。     

FGOALS-g3模拟的南亚夏季风:气候态和年际变率

南亚夏季风的变化决定着印度半岛的旱涝状况,气候系统模式则是研究南亚夏季风变化规律的重要工具。本文基于观测和JRA55再分析资料,系统评估了FGOALS-g3模式模拟的南亚夏季风气候态和年际变率,并重点关注FGOALS-g3与FGOALS-g2以及是否考虑海气相互作用的模拟差异。结果表明,由于局地海温模拟的变化,相比于FGOALS-g2,FGOALS-g3模拟的南亚夏季风在气候态热带印度洋信风和El Ni?o期间沃克环流下沉支上有明显改进。同时,由于对流层系统性冷偏差持续存在并且中心位于副热带300 hPa附近,造成气候态上经向温度梯度减弱,使季风环流减弱,导致FGOALS-g3中陆地季风槽的水汽辐散偏差和降水干偏差仍然存在;在年际变率上,FGOALS-g3模拟的El Ni?o期间赤道西太平洋海温冷异常偏弱,印度洋偶极子偏强,导致印度半岛下沉运动减弱,FGOALS-g3中ENSO—印度降水负相关关系也依然偏弱。研究表明,耦合过程导致的气候态海温偏差通过改变环流和水汽输送,有效补偿了大气模式中印度半岛中部和中南半岛的降水湿偏差;在年际变率上,耦合模式由于考虑了海温—降水—云短波辐射的负反馈过程,能够减小大气模式模拟偏差的强度,但印太暖池区海温模拟偏差导致沃克环流下沉支偏西,使得印度半岛的降水响应出现更大的湿偏差。     

区域海气耦合模式FROALS的发展及其应用

区域海气耦合模式是研究局地海气相互作用过程影响气候变率的重要平台,也是对全球气候模式进行"动力降尺度"的重要工具.本文介绍了LASG(State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics)/IAP(Institute of Atmospheric Physics)发展的区域海气耦合模式FROALS(Flexible Regional Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System model),并总结了过去五年围绕该区域海气耦合模式开展的研究工 作.FROALS的特点之一是有两个完全不同的大气模式分量和海洋模式分量选项,可以适应不同的模拟研究需 求.针对区域海气耦合模式在西北太平洋地区的模拟偏差,通过分步骤考察不同大气模式分量和不同海洋模式分量对模式模拟性能的影响,指出大气模式是导致区域海气耦合偏差的主要分量.通过改进对流触发的相对湿度阈值标准,有效地改善了此前区域海气耦合模式在亚洲季风区普遍出现的"模拟海温冷偏差".改进的FROALS对西北太平洋地区的大气和海洋环境有较好的模拟能力,合理地再现了西北太平洋地区表层洋流气候态和年际变率.较之非耦合模式,考虑区域海气耦合过程后,改进了东亚和南亚地区的降水和热带气旋潜势年际变率的模拟.最后,针对东亚—西北太平洋地区,利用FROALS对IAP/LASG全球气候模式模拟和预估的结果进行了动力降尺 度,得到了东亚区域50 km高分辨率区域气候变化信息.分析显示,FROALS模拟得到的东亚区域气候较之全球气候模式和非耦合区域气候模式结果具有明显的"增值",显示出区域海气耦合模式在该区域良好的应用前景.     

FGOALS耦合模式对赤道太平洋海温和降水年循环的模拟评估

本文评估了中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学和地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室（LASG/IAP）研发的全球气候系统模式（FGOALS）的4个版本（FGOALS-g2、s2、g3、f3-L）对赤道太平洋地区的海温、降水气候态和季节循环的模拟能力。本文从海气耦合机制和热量收支的角度对耦合模式结果和相应的大气模式比较计划试验（AMIP）进行了对比分析,探讨了造成这一地区海温和降水模拟偏差的原因。结果显示,上一代模式g2和s2的海表温度均方根误差大于2°C,新一代模式g3和f3-L模拟的均方根误差降低50%,为1°C左右。因为新版本中赤道太平洋地区的净短波辐射平均态误差的减小,海洋上层热量动力输送过程的改善和净短波辐射与海温回归关系改进,赤道太平洋地区海温的平均态,南北温度和降水的不对称性都更加接近观测。f3-L比g3在上述方面改进更多,海温也更加合理。但是新一代版本模拟的降水均没有显著改进,赤道北侧ITCZ的降水偏大4 mm d?1。对流降水带来的凝结潜热释放加强了南北非绝热加热梯度,越赤道南风偏差抵消了一部分因为短波辐射偏大带来的海温偏暖,这说明海温平均态的改善是模拟误差相互抵消的结果。在季节循环的模拟方面也存在类似的现象,f3-L和g3中的海温年循环有所改进但较观测振幅仍旧偏弱。这是因为f3-L和g3模拟的经向风和潜热的年循环振幅比前版本要偏强,误差加大的同时也更大地抵消短波辐射的年循环偏差。g2和s2模拟的海温在赤道东太平洋则存在一个虚假半年循环分量,这主要是由潜热通量半年循环偏差所引起的。     

海气耦合模式FGOALS-s2模拟东亚气候的能力分析

该文采用FGOALS-s2模式两个20 a积分试验的结果,一个是海气自由耦合的控制试验,另一个是由控制试验产生的月平均海温强迫大气的海温强迫试验,通过比较两个试验结果的气候态和标准差,研究海气耦合模式FGOALS-s2模拟东亚气候变率的能力。结果表明:FGOALS-s2模式控制试验能够很好的再现降水和大气环流场的气候特征。与海温强迫试验相比:耦合模式能更好的模拟东亚地区气候态,200~500 h Pa垂直积分的气温整体偏低,850 h Pa上的东亚夏季风和南亚夏季风均偏弱,青藏高原附近的降水显著偏少,阿拉伯海、孟加拉湾、南海区域降水偏多,副高减弱偏南;耦合模式模拟的东亚气候标准差,在青藏高原上空200~500 h Pa上垂直积分气温变率偏大,阿拉伯海、孟加拉湾以及南海和西北太平洋降水变率均偏少;两种试验均能较好地模拟中国雨带从华南到长江流域再到华北的季节演变过程,控制试验模拟的降水北进过程中雨带偏南,而南退过程缓慢。     

区域海气耦合模式模拟的2003年东亚夏季风季节内振荡

评估了一个区域海气耦合模式(由区域环境系统集成模式RIEMS和普林斯顿海洋模式POM组成)对2003年东亚夏季风季节内振荡(ISO)的模拟性能。通过与观测海温驱动单独大气模式结果的比较,分析了海气耦合过程对东亚夏季大气ISO模拟性能的影响。结果表明:耦合模式能够模拟出2003年中国东部地区夏季降水的气候态分布,模拟的中国东部尤其是江淮地区大气ISO活动较单独大气模式更为显著。同时,耦合模式能够较好地再现大气ISO经向上北传的传播特征,模拟的江淮流域降水处于活跃和中断期时西北太平洋地区低频降水和环流异常在强度和空间分布上较单独大气模式都更为合理。相比于单独大气模式,耦合模式对大气ISO模拟的改善,一方面与其对气候态西北太平洋副热带高压和相关对流层底层风场模拟的改善有关,另一方面与其包含海气相互作用,因而对低频降水与海温和水汽辐合位相关系模拟的改善有关。     

气候系统模式FGOALS模拟的南亚夏季风：偏差和原因分析

本文通过与观测和再分析资料的对比,评估了LASG/IAP发展的气候系统模式FGOALS的两个版本FGOALS-g2和FGOALS-s2对南亚夏季风的气候态和年际变率的模拟能力,并使用水汽收支方程诊断,研究了造成降水模拟偏差的原因。结果表明,两个模式夏季气候态降水均在陆地季风槽内偏少,印度半岛附近海域偏多,在降水年循环中表现为夏季北侧辐合带北推范围不足。FGOALS-g2中赤道印度洋"东西型"海温偏差导致模拟的东赤道印度洋海上辐合带偏弱,而FGOALS-s2中印度洋"南北型"海温偏差导致模拟的海上辐合带偏向西南。水汽收支分析表明,两个模式中气候态夏季风降水的模拟偏差主要来自于整层积分的水汽通量,尤其是垂直动力平流项的模拟偏差。一方面,夏季阿拉伯海和孟加拉湾的海温偏冷而赤道西印度洋海温偏暖,造成向印度半岛的水汽输送偏少;另一方面,对流层温度偏冷,冷中心位于印度半岛北部对流层上层,同时季风槽内总云量偏少,云长波辐射效应偏弱,对流层经向温度梯度偏弱以及大气湿静力稳定度偏强引起的下沉异常造成陆地季风槽内降水偏少。在年际变率上,观测中南亚夏季风环流和降水指数与Ni?o3.4指数存在负相关关系,但FGOALS两个版本模式均存在较大偏差。两个模式中与ENSO暖事件相关的沃克环流异常下沉支和对应的负降水异常西移至赤道以南的热带中西印度洋,沿赤道非对称的加热异常令两个模式中越赤道环流季风增强,导致印度半岛南部产生正降水异常。ENSO相关的沃克环流异常下沉支及其对应的负降水异常偏西与两个模式对热带南印度洋气候态降水的模拟偏差有关。研究结果表明,若要提高FGOALS两个版本模式对南亚夏季风气候态模拟技巧,需减小耦合模式对印度洋海温、对流层温度及云的模拟偏差;若要提高南亚夏季风和ENSO相关性模拟技巧需要提高模式对热带印度洋气候态降水以及与ENSO相关的环流异常的模拟能力。     

区域海气耦合过程对中国东部夏季降水模拟的影响

本文以区域环境系统集成模式(RIEMS)和普林斯顿海洋模式(POM)为基础,建立了一个区域海气耦合模式,评估了其对1985～2004年中圜东部夏季降水的模拟性能,并通过与观测海温强迫下单独大气模式模拟结果的比较,分析了海气耦合过程对降水模拟性能的影响.结果表明:耦合模式基本能够模拟出中国东部地区夏季降水的气候态分布及中...     

Reduction of the thermocline feedback associated with mean SST bias in ENSO simulation

Associated with the double Inter-tropical convergence zone problem, a dipole SST bias pattern (cold in the equatorial central Pacific and warm in the southeast tropical Pacific) remains a common problem inherent in many contemporary coupled models. Based on a newly-developed coupled model, we performed a control run and two sensitivity runs, one is a coupled run with annual mean SST correction and the other is an ocean forced run. By comparison of these three runs, we demonstrated that a serious consequence of this SST bias is to severely suppress the thermocline feedback in a realistic simulation of the El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation. Firstly, the excessive cold tongue extension pushes the anomalous convection far westward from the equatorial central Pacific, prominently diminishing the convection-low level wind feedback and thus the air-sea coupling strength. Secondly, the equatorial surface wind anomaly exhibits a relatively uniform meridional structure with weak gradient, contributing to a weakened wind-thermocline feedback. Thirdly, the equatorial cold SST bias induces a weakened upper-ocean stratification and thus yields the underestimation of the thermocline-subsurface temperature feedback. Finally, the dipole SST bias underestimates the mean upwelling through (a) undermining equatorial mean easterly wind stress, and (b) enhancing convective mixing and thus reducing the upper ocean stratification, which weakens vertical shear of meridional currents and near-surface Ekman-divergence.     

MJO与北半球高纬地区冬季地表气温异常的联系

基于1979—2016年NCEP-NCAR逐日再分析资料研究了热带季节内振荡(MJO)和北半球冬季高纬地区地表气温(SAT)之间的联系。利用实时多变量MJO(RMM)指数,将MJO分为8个位相,其中位相2(位相6)对应于位于印度洋地区的正(负)对流。不同MJO位相下的SAT合成结果显示MJO第二位相后的5~15 d,北半球高纬地区(60°~90°N、180°~60°W)有明显的负SAT异常;由于热带异常加热信号的改变,在MJO第六位相后的5~15 d该地区则对应于显著的正SAT异常。该地区温度的垂直结构在各个位相下也表现出类似的分布特征。合成的500 hPa位势高度异常场显示,在温度负(正)异常的位相对应有明显的位势高度负(正)异常,这种环流异常主要是由与热带对流异常相联系的向东北方向传播的罗斯贝波列所引起的。通过对波活动通量的计算,推断该东北方向传播的罗斯贝波列很可能是罗斯贝波能量频散的结果。合成的700 hPa比湿异常场和SAT之间在存在着较好的对应关系,考虑到对流层中层的比湿与向下长波辐射之间存在着正相关关系,说明该温度异常也可能与辐射过程相关。上述分析表明与MJO对流相关的大尺度环流异常对高纬地区季节内SAT变率有重要影响,该异常SAT信号可能来自平流输送和辐射过程等。准确把握MJO位相与SAT异常信号的联系也可以为北半球高纬地区SAT的延伸期预报提供一些可靠线索。     

Effect of Boundary Layer Latent Heating on MJO Simulations

A latent heating peak in the PBL was detected in a simulation by a global GCM that failed to reproduce Madden-Julian Oscillation(MJO).The latent heating peak in the PBL was generated by very shallow convection,which prevented moisture from being transported to the free troposphere.Large amount of moisture was therefore confined to the PBL,leading to a dry bias in the free atmosphere.Suffering from this dry bias,deep convection became lethargic,and MJO signals failed to occur.When the latent heating peak in the PBL was removed in another simulation,reasonable MJO signals,including the eastward propagation and the structure of its large-scale circulation,appeared.We therefore propose that the excessive latent heating peak in the PBL due to hyperactive shallow convection may be a reason for a lack of MJO signals in some simulations by other GCMs as well.     

Low and high frequency Madden–Julian oscillations in austral summer: interannual variations

The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the main component of intraseasonal variability of the tropical convection, with clear climatic impacts at an almost-global scale. Based on satellite observations, it is shown that there are two types of austral-summer MJO events (broadly defined as 30–120 days convective variability with eastward propagation of about 5 m/s). Equatorial MJO events have a period of 30–50 days and tend to be symmetric about the equator, whereas MJO events centered near 8°S tend to have a longer period of 55–100 days. The lower-frequency variability is associated with a strong upper-ocean response, having a clear signature in both sea surface temperature and its diurnal cycle. These two MJO types have different interannual variations, and are modulated by the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Following a negative IOD event, the lower-frequency southern MJO variability increases, while the higher-frequency equatorial MJO strongly diminishes. We propose two possible explanations for this change in properties of the MJO. One possibility is that changes in the background atmospheric circulation after an IOD favour the development of the low-frequency MJO. The other possibility is that the shallower thermocline ridge and mixed layer depth, by enhancing SST intraseasonal variability and thus ocean–atmosphere coupling in the southwest Indian Ocean (the breeding ground of southern MJO onset), favour the lower-frequency southern MJO variability.     

Evaluation of the Madden–Julian oscillation in HiRAM

The aim of this study was to understand the cause of Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) bias in the High Resolution Atmospheric Model (HiRAM) driven by observed SST through process-oriented diagnosis. Wavenumber-frequency power spectrum and composite analyses indicate that HiRAM underestimates the spectral amplitude over the MJO band and mainly produces non-propagating rather than eastward-propagating intraseasonal rainfall anomalies, as observed. Column-integrated moist static energy (MSE) budget analysis is conducted to understand the MJO propagation bias in the simulation. It is found that the bias is due to the lack of a zonally asymmetric distribution of the MSE tendency anomaly in respect to the MJO convective center, which is mainly attributable to the bias in vertical MSE advection and surface turbulent flux. Further analysis suggests that it is the unrealistic simulation of MJO vertical circulation anomalies in the upper troposphere as well as overestimation of the Rossby wave response that results in the bias.摘要本研究评估了高分辨率大气环流模式HiRAM模拟的MJO. 结果表明, HiRAM模拟的MJO东传很弱. 我们通过计算整层积分的湿静力能 (MSE) 收支来诊断MJO东传模拟偏差的原因. 结果发现, MSE倾向相对于MJO对流中心的纬向非对称分布很弱是导致东传模拟偏弱的原因, 这主要是由MSE垂直平流和地表湍流通量的模拟偏差造成的. 进一步研究表明, 对流层上层MJO垂直环流结构的模拟偏差和MJO对流西侧的Rossby波环流偏强共同导致了模式的偏差. 本研究中指出的MJO传播模拟偏差的原因与之前基于多模式结果的结论不同, 这意味着要想了解特定模式的模拟偏差, 有必要对该模式进行具体分析.     

The Madden–Julian oscillation in ECHAM4 coupled and uncoupled general circulation models

The Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) dominates tropical variability on timescales of 30–70 days. During the boreal winter/spring, it is manifested as an eastward propagating disturbance, with a strong convective signature over the eastern hemisphere. The space–time structure of the MJO is analyzed using simulations with the ECHAM4 atmospheric general circulation model run with observed monthly mean sea-surface temperatures (SSTs), and coupled to three different ocean models. The coherence of the eastward propagation of MJO convection is sensitive to the ocean model to which ECHAM4 is coupled. For ECHAM4/OPYC and ECHO-G, models for which ~100 years of daily data is available, Monte Carlo sampling indicates that their metrics of eastward propagation are different at the 1% significance level. The flux-adjusted coupled simulations, ECHAM4/OPYC and ECHO-G, maintain a more realistic mean-state, and have a more realistic MJO simulation than the nonadjusted scale interaction experiment (SINTEX) coupled runs. The SINTEX model exhibits a cold bias in Indian Ocean and tropical West Pacific Ocean sea-surface temperature of ~0.5°C. This cold bias affects the distribution of time-mean convection over the tropical eastern hemisphere. Furthermore, the eastward propagation of MJO convection in this model is not as coherent as in the two models that used flux adjustment or when compared to an integration of ECHAM4 with prescribed observed SST. This result suggests that simulating a realistic basic state is at least as important as air–sea interaction for organizing the MJO. While all of the coupled models simulate the warm (cold) SST anomalies that precede (succeed) the MJO convection, the interaction of the components of the net surface heat flux that lead to these anomalies are different over the Indian Ocean. The ECHAM4/OPYC model in which the atmospheric model is run at a horizontal resolution of T42, has eastward propagating zonal wind anomalies and latent heat flux anomalies. However, the integrations with ECHO-G and SINTEX, which used T30 atmospheres, produce westward propagation of the latent heat flux anomalies, contrary to reanalysis. It is suggested that the differing ability of the models to represent the near-surface westerlies over the Indian Ocean is related to the different horizontal resolutions of the atmospheric model employed.     

Processes controlling the surface temperature signature of the Madden�CJulian Oscillation in the thermocline ridge of the Indian Ocean

During boreal winter, there is a prominent maximum of intraseasonal sea-surface temperature (SST) variability associated with the Madden?CJulian Oscillation (MJO) along a Thermocline Ridge located in the southwestern Indian Ocean (5°S?C10°S, 60°E?C90°E; TRIO region). There is an ongoing debate about the relative importance of air-sea heat fluxes and oceanic processes in driving this intraseasonal SST variability. Furthermore, various studies have suggested that interannual variability of the oceanic structure in the TRIO region could modulate the amplitude of the MJO-driven SST response. In this study, we use observations and ocean general circulation model (OGCM) experiments to quantify these two effects over the 1997?C2006 period. Observational analysis indicates that Ekman pumping does not contribute significantly (on average) to intraseasonal SST variability. It is, however, difficult to quantify the relative contribution of net heat fluxes and entrainment to SST intraseasonal variability from observations alone. We therefore use a suite of OGCM experiments to isolate the impacts of each process. During 1997?C2006, wind stress contributed on average only about 20% of the intraseasonal SST variability (averaged over the TRIO region), while heat fluxes contributed about 70%, with forcing by shortwave radiation (75%) dominating the other flux components (25%). This estimate is consistent with an independent air-sea flux product, which indicates that shortwave radiation contributes 68% of intraseasonal heat flux variability. The time scale of the heat-flux perturbation, in addition to its amplitude, is also important in controlling the intraseasonal SST signature, with longer periods favouring a larger response. There are also strong year-to-year variations in the respective role of heat fluxes and wind stress. Of the five strong cooling events identified in both observations and the model (two in 1999 and one in 2000, 2001 and 2002), intraseasonal-wind stress dominates the SST signature during 2001 and contributes significantly during 2000. Interannual variations of the subsurface thermal structure associated with the Indian Ocean Dipole or El Ni?o/La Ni?a events modulate the MJO-driven SST signature only moderately (by up to 30%), mainly by changing the temperature of water entrained into the mixed layer. The primary factor that controls year-to-year changes in the amplitude of TRIO, intraseasonal SST anomalies is hence the characteristics of intraseasonal surface flux perturbations, rather than changes in the underlying oceanic state.     

Seasonal and Intraseasonal Variations of East Asian Summer Monsoon Precipitation Simulated by a Regional Air-Sea Coupled Model

The performance of a regional air-sea coupled model, comprising the Regional Integrated Environment Model System (RIEMS) and the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), in simulating the seasonal and intraseasonal variations of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) rainfall was investigated. Through comparisons of the model results among the coupled model, the uncoupled RIEMS, and observations, the impact of air-sea coupling on simulating the EASM was also evaluated. Results showed that the regional air-sea coupled climate model performed better in simulating the spatial pattern of the precipitation climatology and produced more realistic variations of the EASM rainfall in terms of its amplitude and principal EOF modes. The coupled model also showed greater skill than the uncoupled RIEMS in reproducing the principal features of climatological intraseasonal oscillation (CISO) of EASM rainfall, including its dominant period, intensity, and northward propagation. Further analysis indicated that the improvements in the simulation of the EASM rainfall climatology and its seasonal variation in the coupled model were due to better simulation of the western North Pacific Subtropical High, while the improvements of CISO simulation were owing to the realistic phase relationship between the intraseasonal convection and the underlying SST resulting from the air-sea coupling.     

Impact of resolving the diurnal cycle in an ocean–atmosphere GCM. Part 1: a diurnally forced OGCM

The diurnal cycle is a fundamental time scale in the climate system, at which the upper ocean and atmosphere are routinely observed to vary. Current climate models, however, are not configured to resolve the diurnal cycle in the upper ocean or the interaction of the ocean and atmosphere on these time scales. This study examines the diurnal cycle of the tropical upper ocean and its climate impacts. In the present paper, the first of two, a high vertical resolution ocean general circulation model (OGCM), with modified physics, is developed which is able to resolve the diurnal cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) and current variability in the upper ocean. It is then validated against a satellite derived parameterization of diurnal SST variability and in-situ current observations. The model is then used to assess rectification of the intraseasonal SST response to the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) by the diurnal cycle of SST. Across the equatorial Indo-Pacific it is found that the diurnal cycle increases the intraseasonal SST response to the MJO by around 20%. In the Pacific, the diurnal cycle also modifies the exchange of momentum between equatorially divergent Ekman currents and the meridionally convergent geostrophic currents beneath, resulting in a 10% increase in the strength of the Ekman cells and equatorial upwelling. How the thermodynamic and dynamical impacts of the diurnal cycle effect the mean state, and variability, of the climate system cannot be fully investigated in the constrained design of ocean-only experiments presented here. The second part of this study, published separately, addresses the climate impacts of the diurnal cycle in the coupled system by coupling the OGCM developed here to an atmosphere general circulation model.     

How well do current climate models simulate two types of El Nino?

In this study, we evaluate the fidelity of current climate models in simulating the two types of El Nino events using the pre-industrial output in CMIP3 archives. It is shown that a few climate models simulate the two types of El Nino events to some extent, while most of the models have serious systematic problems in simulating distinctive patterns of sea-surface temperature (SST) and precipitation anomaly associated with the two types of El Nino; that is, they tend to simulate a single type of El Nino. It is shown that the ability of climate models in simulating the two types of El Nino is related to the sensitivity of the atmospheric responses to the SST anomaly patterns. Models whose convective location is shifted to the east (west) as the SST anomaly center moves to the east (west) tends to simulate the two types of El Nino events successfully. On the other hand, models whose location of convective anomaly is confined over the western or central Pacific tends to simulate only the single type of El Nino event. It is also shown that the confinement of the convective anomaly over the western or central Pacific is closely linked to the dry bias and the associated cold bias over the eastern Pacific. That is, because positive El Nino SST anomalies over the eastern Pacific cannot increase local convection effectively when the total SSTs are still too cold due to a cold bias. This implies that the realistic simulation of climatology, especially over the equatorial eastern Pacific, is essential to the successful simulation of the two types of El Nino.