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。     

副热带东太平洋低云对LASG耦合环流模式FGCM-0中"双ITCZ"的影响

与其他耦合环流模式一样,LASG耦合模式FGCM-0也存在虚假的“双ITCZ”。为了认识FGCM-0中“双ITCZ”,首先研究了FGCM-0的大气分量模式,剧INCAR(美国国家大气研究中心)的公用气候模式CCM3对秘鲁和加利福尼亚沿岸低云以及低层大气整体稳定度的模拟能力。发现：尽管CCM3模拟的低层大气整体稳定度与利用NCEP(美国国家环境预报中心)再分析资料分析的结果较一致,但模拟的低云量比ISCCP(国际卫星云气候计划)观测值显偏少。利用ISCCP低云量与由NCEP再分析温度场分析的低层整体稳定度之间的回归关系,修改了CCM3中低云参数化方案,并用于敏感性试验,以研究副热带东太平洋低云对FGCM-0中“双ITCZ”的影响。结果发现,修改的方案能显增强对低云量的模拟,秘鲁沿岸冷海域低云量增加能显减弱赤道以南热带东太平洋海表面温度(SST)的暖偏差,但同时也将使赤道冷舌增强、向西伸展更远;加利福尼亚沿岸低云量增加可以有效减弱赤道以北ITCZ区SST暖偏差。为了检验秘鲁沿岸SST与低云间的正反馈,又实施了一个控制秘鲁沿岸SST的敏感性试验,结果表明：控制秘鲁沿岸SST抑制其增暖,对自东南太平洋向西北至中、西赤道太平洋广大区域产生的影响,与增加秘鲁沿岸低云量产生的影响相似。     

利用卫星产品评估数值预报模式云层垂直结构

对云层垂直结构的准确参数化描述是数值天气预报模式准确计算长短波辐射通量、辐射加热率廓线、云反射率、云辐射效应等参数的重要基础,但地基观测数据无法对模式预报的云层垂直分层情况进行验证。文章基于卫星资料Collection5版本的MODIS云产品MOD06,利用国际上能够较准确判别云层垂直分层的一个新算法,以反演的高、中、低云发生频率和云顶气压结果,评估美国国家环境预报中心(NCEP)北美中尺度模式NAM的云层垂直结构。2006年7～10月北美地区(153°～48°W,12°～62°N)的评估结果表明:①卫星反演和模式预报的高、中、低云的云量区域分布比较相似,尤其是高云。热带太平洋地区模式预报高云量大于卫星反演值。模式预报的低云在墨西哥及北美大陆、大西洋地区更多。②卫星反演和模式预报中云发生频率的差异最小,模式预报高云和低云发生频率峰值比卫星反演的峰值更大,且云顶出现的高度更高。③模式预报中云量和低云量的纬度平均值比卫星反演的高,尤其是低云量。NAM的云参数化有待于进一步改进。     

参加CMIP5的四个中国气候模式模拟的东亚冬季风年际变率

本文比较了中国参加“国际耦合模式比较计划”（CMIP5）的四个大气环流模式（即FGOALS-g2、FGOALS-s2、BCC-CSM1-1、BNU-ESM大气模式）在观测海温驱动下,对东亚冬季风（EAWM）气候态和年际变率的模拟能力。结果表明,在气候态上,四个模式均合理再现了EAWM高低层环流系统（包括低层西伯利亚高压（SH）、阿留申低压、异常偏北风、和中高层东亚大槽、西风急流）,其中对2 m气温和500 hPa高度场的模拟技巧最高,四个模式模拟的结果与再分析资料的空间相关系数都达到0.99。在年际变率上,分别对东亚北部地区（30°N～60°N,100°E～140°E）和东亚南部地区（0°～30°N,100°E～140°E）的2 m气温进行经验正交函数分解（EOF）,提取变率主导模态。结果表明,在东亚北部地区,四个模式对2 m气温第一模态（简称“北部型”）的空间分布均有很高的模拟技巧,但只有BNU-ESM能够较好再现其对应的年际变率,其模拟的时间序列与观测的相关系数为0.69。四个模式均能模拟出观测中的3.1 a主导周期,但只有FGOALS-s2和BNU-ESM能模拟出观测中的2.5 a主导周期。在东亚南部地区,模式模拟的前两个主模态共同解释观测中第一模态（简称“南部型”）的特征,其中FGOALS-g2、FGOALS-s2和BNU-ESM的综合模拟技巧较高,但只有BNU-ESM成功再现了观测中2.5 a和3.1 a的主导周期。机理分析表明,FGOALS-g2、FGOALS-s2、BNU-ESM三个模式能合理再现菲律宾海反气旋,同时对南部型有较高的模拟能力,而BCC-CSM1-1则未能有效再现菲律宾海反气旋,使得 BCC-CSM1-1对南部型模拟技巧较低。观测和四个模式模拟的结果一致表现出北极涛动（AO）与北部型PC1呈显著相关,影响大于SH。     

BCC_AGCM2.1对中国东部地区云辐射特征模拟的偏差分析

通过与观测及再分析资料的对比,评估了中国国家气候中心大气环流模式BCC_AGCM 2.1对中国东部地区云辐射特征的模拟性能,并着重分析了模拟偏差的原因.在云辐射特征的基本气候态模拟方面,模式能大致再现中国东部中纬度层状云大值带,以及层状云冷季多、暖季少的季节特征,模拟的短波云辐射强迫也具有与观测相对应的季节变化特征.在云辐射强迫和地面温度相互影响过程的模拟方面,模式也能模拟出与观测相近的相互作用过程,即地面温度降低伴随着层状云云量增多以及负的净云辐射强迫加强,升温时层状云云量减少和净云辐射强迫减弱.但模式模拟的大陆层状云云量系统性偏少(尤其在冷季),使得模式在该处的短波云辐射强迫明显偏弱.初步分析表明,造成层状云模拟差异的主要原因是在中国西南地区对流层低层模式模拟的偏南气流明显偏弱以及陆-气潜热通量偏小.偏南气流偏弱导致低层散度和垂直运动条件不利于中层云的形成.同时偏南气流偏弱也不利于向西南地区的水汽输送,再加上模式模拟地表向上潜热通量偏小,这二者都使得模式模拟中国西南区域对流层低层的水汽含量严重偏少,相对湿度偏低,同样不利于层状云生成和发展.水汽偏少进一步导致在冷异常情况下青藏高原下游云辐射-地表温度反馈模拟偏弱,即呈现冷异常时,水汽条件偏弱限制了云量增加,弱化了进一步降低温度的反馈过程.     

不同分辨率BCC_AGCM模式对东亚区域垂直云量的模拟

基于ISCCP(International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project)和NCEP(National Centers for Environmental Prediction)资料分析了BCC_AGCM2.1(Beijing Climate Center_Atmospheric General Circulation Model 2.1)和BCC_AGCM2.2模拟的云在东亚的垂直分布特点,并探讨了误差来源。两个模式大体上模拟出了总云量的分布形势,较好地模拟出了垂直方向上云量大值带随地形的变化特点,但模拟的总云量偏少。AGCM2.2模拟的云量整体上小于AGCM2.1,除复杂地形外AGCM2.2没有体现出高分辨率的优势。模式对中国东部环流场的模拟效果差导致模拟的云量偏少,尤其是AGCM2.2。模拟的对流层高层相对湿度明显偏大导致高层云量偏大。模式在近海面模拟的相对湿度偏小,四川盆地及周围地区冷季模拟的水汽含量偏少,因而模拟的云量偏少。模式云量对相对湿度的响应能力较好,模拟出了云量对垂直速度和稳定度的响应,但地区差异不明显。模式的云参数化方案中云与相对湿度的关系系数需要调整,应更利于云的生成。     

基于CloudSat卫星资料的青藏高原云系发生频率及其结构

应用2006年5月至2013年5月7年的Cloud Sat卫星观测资料,针对青藏高原上空不同高度、不同季节8类云(卷云、高层云、高积云、层云、层积云、积云、雨层云、浓积云)的发生频率,分析研究了青藏高原地区云的水平和垂直分布特征及其物理成因,为数值预报模式对云系模拟能力的评估提供了有效的验证信息。研究表明:青藏高原云的发生频率为35%,其中:低云的频率最大,接近21%;中云次之,频率14%;高云的频率最小。垂直分布上,低云最大频率的高度为5~6 km,中云为7~8 km,高云为11~12 km。水平分布上,高原东南部、西北部云发生频率较高,是高原的两个相对多云中心。低云与总的云频率水平分布基本一致;中云是高原北部、中部频率高,南部低,与低云明显不同;高云主要是夏季在高原南部频率高。从不同季节来看,冬季高原西部的低云频率高;春季高原中北部的中云频率高,西部和东南部的低云频率高;夏季南部的低云和高云频率高;秋季云发生频率都很低。在物理成因上,低云的形成主要是地形抬升作用,中云的形成与高原热力作用相关。     

基于LASG/IAP大气环流谱模式的气候系统模式

文章扼要介绍了基于LASG/IAP大气环流谱模式(SAMIL)的气候系统模式的新版本FGOALS-s的发展和结构。出于发展一个在东亚季风模拟方面有一定优势的气候系统模式之目的,FGOALS-s的大气模式分量SAMIL采用了较高的水平分辨率R42,这相当于2.8125°(经度)×1.66°(纬度),高于三角截断T42的分辨率。对FGOALS-s在模拟大气、陆面、海洋和海冰的气候平均态,以及主要的年际变率信号方面的能力进行了检验。分析表明,FGOALS-s成功地控制了气候漂移趋势,能够较为真实地模拟大气、海洋和陆面的气候平均态,特别是受益于大气模式的较高分辨率,由中国西南向东北延伸的夏季风雨带的分布,在模式中得到较为真实的再现,表明该模式在东亚夏季风的模拟上具有较强能力。耦合模式能够成功再现El Ni~no事件的非规则周期变化,但是其年际变化的振幅较之观测要弱。赤道中西太平洋年际变率的强度较之赤道中东太平洋要强。在中高纬度,模式模拟的北大西洋涛动模态,在空间分布上与观测接近。FGOALS-s模式存在的主要问题,是模拟的热带海温偏冷、而中纬度海温则偏暖,原因是模式模拟的云量分布存在偏差,它直接影响到海表的净热通量收支。模式模拟的北大西洋高纬度地区的海温明显偏冷,令该地区的年平均海冰分布的范围明显偏大;然而受南极周边海温偏高影响,南极洲周围的海冰范围则偏少。FGOALS-s的未来工作重点,宜放在大气模式的云过程、海洋模式的经向能量输送过程、以及海洋与大气的淡水通量耦合方案的改进方面。     

对流层增暖热带放大现象：基于FGOALS-g3的模拟研究

热带地区的湿绝热过程会放大地表的增暖幅度,在约200 hPa高度上产生增暖峰值,该现象被称为“热带对流层放大”。热带对流层放大是气候变化的显著特征之一,是检验气候模式性能的重要指标。本文基于RSS4.0卫星数据和ERA5.1再分析资料,系统分析了FGOALS-g3模式对气温变化特别是热带对流层放大的模拟能力,并通过新旧版本模式（FGOALS-g3与FGOALS-g2）的比较指出了新版本模式模拟技巧的提升;通过比较FGOALS-g3历史模拟试验与GAMIL3单独大气模式AMIP试验结果,研究了海气耦合过程对模拟结果的影响。结果表明,FGOALS-g3能够合理再现观测中的全球对流层显著增温趋势,但模拟的增温趋势偏强,这与气候系统内部变率以及两代气候系统模式所使用的历史气候外强迫差异有关。其对于观测中热带平均增温廓线以及热带对流层放大的空间分布均表现出良好的模拟性能,模拟的热带对流层放大现象的量值大小存在正偏差,与模拟的对流层低层温度变化偏强有关。FGOALS-g3较FGOALS-g2在性能上有一定提升,主要表现为增加了对于火山气溶胶强迫的响应,并在热带对流层放大的空间分布及平均气温趋势廓线...     

中国东部云-降水对应关系的分析与模式评估

为评估和改进模式中不同类型云与降水的对应关系,利用1998—2007年卫星-台站融合降水资料和国际卫星云气候计划的卫星观测云资料,采用诊断方法分析了中国东部季风区冬季层云、夏季对流云、层云与降水的水平分布及季节变化对应关系,并评估了BCC_AGCM模式的T42和T106分辨率版本对云-降水对应关系的模拟能力。观测资料分析结果表明,中国东部冬季云带和雨带都稳定少动,降水主要来自雨层云和高层云,南部沿海层云和层积云也对降水有贡献;夏季,中国东部表现为层积混合云降水特征,对流云带与降水带具有较好的对应关系,并具有一致的移动特征。对流降水主要来自深对流云和卷层云,深对流云云量和降水中心完全吻合,卷层云云带则表现出比深对流云主体和降水带偏北的现象;层云降水主要来自高层云和层积云。模式评估结果表明,中、低分辨率版本的BCC_AGCM模式均模拟出了冬季层云和稳定少动的降水带、夏季深对流云、卷层云和降水带的对应关系及随季风推进的移动特征。与T42模式版本相比,T106模式版本在夏季对流云云量的模拟及其与降水带的对应关系方面有所改善,说明改进的BCC_AGCM积云对流参数化方案与高分辨率模式网格更匹配,但冬季层云云量模拟误差变大,与降水带的对应关系变差,其原因值得进一步分析研究。     

Annual cycle and interannual variability in the tropical pacific as simulated by three versions of FGOALS

The seasonal cycle and interannual variability in the tropical oceans simulated by three versions of the Flexible Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System (FGOALS) model (FGOALS-g1.0, FGOALS-g2 and FGOALSs2), which have participated in phases 3 and 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3 and CMIP5), are presented in this paper. The seasonal cycle of SST in the tropical Pacific is realistically reproduced by FGOALS-g2 and FGOALSs2, while it is poorly simulated in FGOALS-g1.0. Three feedback mechanisms responsible for the SST annual cycle in the eastern Pacific are evaluated. The ocean-atmosphere dynamic feedback, which is successfully reproduced by both FGOALS-g2 and FGOALS-s2, plays a key role in determining the SST annual cycle, while the overestimated stratus cloud-SST feedback amplifies the annual cycle in FGOALS-s2. Because of the serious warm bias existing in FGOALS-g1.0, the ocean-atmosphere dynamic feedback is greatly underestimated in FGOALS-g1.0, in which the SST annual cycle is mainly driven by surface solar radiation. FGOALS-g1.0 simulates much stronger ENSO events than observed, whereas FGOALS-g2 and FGOALSs2 successfully simulate the observed ENSO amplitude and period and positive asymmetry, but with less strength. Further ENSO feedback analyses suggest that surface solar radiation feedback is principally responsible for the overestimated ENSO amplitude in FGOALS-g1.0. Both FGOALS-g1.0 and FGOALS-s2 can simulate two different types of El Ni-no events — with maximum SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific (EP) or in the central Pacific (CP) — but FGOALS-g2 is only able to simulate EP El Ni-no, because the negative cloud shortwave forcing feedback by FGOALS-g2 is much stronger than observed in the central Pacific.     

Vertical Structures of Convective and Stratiform Clouds in Boreal Summer over the Tibetan Plateau and Its Neighboring Regions

Cloud is essential in the atmosphere, condensing water vapor and generating strong convective or large-scale persistent precipitation. In this work, the relationships between cloud vertical macro- or microphysical properties, radiative heating rate, and precipitation for convective and stratiform clouds in boreal summer over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are analyzed and compared with its neighboring land and tropical oceans based on CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite measurements and TRMM precipitation data. The precipitation intensity caused by convective clouds is twofold stronger than that by stratiform clouds. The vertical macrophysics of both cloud types show similar features over the TP, with the region weakening the precipitation intensity and compressing the cloud vertical expansion and variation in cloud top height, but having an uplift effect on the average cloud top height. The vertical microphysics of both cloud types under conditions of no rain over the TP are characterized by lower-level ice water, ice particles with a relatively larger range of sizes, and a relatively lower occurrence of denser ice particles. The features are similar to other regions when precipitation enhances, but convective clouds gather denser and larger ice particles than stratiform clouds over the TP. The atmospheric shortwave (longwave) heating (cooling) rate strengthens with increased precipitation for both cloud types. The longwave cooling layer is thicker when the rainfall rate is less than 100 mm d^?1, but the net heating layer is typically compressed for the profiles of both cloud types over the TP. This study provides insights into the associations between clouds and precipitation, and an observational basis for improving the simulation of convective and stratiform clouds over the TP in climate models.     

AREM simulations of cloud features over eastern China in February 2001

Based on the simulations of cloud features in February 2001 by the regional numerical weather prediction model-Advanced Regional Eta-coordinate Model (AREM), the dynamic and thermodynamic conditions for middle cloud formation over eastern China are studied. Diagnostic analysis partly confirms the previous suggestion that the middle stratiform clouds downstream of the Tibetan Plateau are maintained by the frictional and blocking effects of the plateau. In addition, it is found that the temperature inversion at plateau height over eastern China generated by the warm air advected from the plateau provides a favorable thermodynamic condition for middle clouds. Both diurnal variations of the mid-level divergence and the inversion over eastern China, which are determined by the atmospheric boundary activity over the Tibetan Plateau, dominate the cloud diurnal cycle. The middle cloud amount decreases and the cloud top falls in the daytime, but reverses at night. The comparison of cloud features between the simulations and the observations also proves that the AREM can well capture the distinctive continental stratiform cloud features downstream of the Tibetan Plateau.     

西北地区不同类型云的时空分布及其与降水的关系

利用1983年7月～2001年9月国际卫星云气候计划ISCCP D2的月平均资料，对西北不同区域不同类型云的云量和云水路径的时空分布及其与降水的关系进行了研究。结果表明:高原气候区是各种云出现最多的地区，特别是积状云的云量明显高于其他两区，但这些云的云水路径值低；西北地区大多数云云量的高值区出现在天山山区、北疆地区、陕西东南部和青藏高原的部分地区。高云和部分中云云量空间分布特征与降水有着较好的一致性:沿着天山—昆仑山—祁连山一带以及陕南和／或陇南地区是高值区，低值区在塔里木盆地—内蒙古西部戈壁沙漠—黄土高原西北部一带；绝大多数云类春夏季节云量维持较高，秋冬季节云量较少。云水路径值较大的层状云类的云量多寡与降水多寡相一致；积状云类和层积云类云量多少与降水没有一定的关系，在降水偏少时，这类云的云量大多与降水正常时相近，有些云的云量甚至比降水偏多时还要多。     

Cloud Properties and Its Relation to Precipitation over Northwest China

The temporal and spatial distribution of cloud properties over Northwest China has been analyzed using the ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) monthly mean D2 data from July 1983 to September 2001. The result shows that the regional average total cloud amount, optical thickness, and water path are 52.5%-58.3%, 2.6-6.6, and 44.9-77.6 g m-2, respectively. The major feature of spatial distribution is that higher value areas of cloud properties are all over Tianshan, Kunlun, and Qilian Mountains, while the lower values of cloud properties are over Tarim Basin, the western desert of Inner Mongolia, and the northwestern part of the Loess Plateau. The higher values of cloud amounts are generally associated with higher level of precipitation. For example, the amounts of stratiform clouds with large water path values are good consistent with precipitation. But the amounts of cumuliform and stratocumuliform clouds do not have de nite relation to precipitation.     

Characterization of cloud microphysical properties in different cloud types over East Asia based on CloudSat/CALIPSO satellite products

利用CloudSat/CALIPSO卫星资料,本文揭示了东亚三个代表性区域的云微物理属性,为评估和改进模式云微物理过程提供重要的观测基础.研究的云微物理量包括云水/冰质量,数浓度和有效半径.研究表明:暖云中云水质量和数浓度随高度增加而减小,有效半径处于8-14μm范围.对于冰云,云冰质量和有效半径随高度增加而减小,而数浓度在垂直方向上变化不大.此外,云微物理属性在不同云型之间存在显著差异:积云的云水质量和数浓度最大,而卷云的云水质量和数浓度最小.从三个区域的对比结果来看,相比于华东和西北太平洋地区,青藏高原地区暖云的云水质量和数浓度较小,而冰云的则较大.     

Historical Evolution of Global and Regional Surface Air Temperature Simulated by FGOALS-s2 and FGOALS-g2: How Reliable Are the Model Results?

In order to assess the performance of two versions of the IAP/LASG Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System (FGOALS) model, simulated changes in surface air temperature (SAT), from natural and anthropogenic forcings, were compared to observations for the period 18502005 at global, hemispheric, continental and regional scales. The global and hemispheric averages of SAT and their land and ocean components during 18502005 were well reproduced by FGOALS-g2, as evidenced by significant correlation coefficients and small RMSEs. The significant positive correlations were firstly determined by the warming trends, and secondly by interdecadal fluctuations. The abilities of the models to reproduce interdecadal SAT variations were demonstrated by both wavelet analysis and significant positive correlations for detrended data. The observed land--sea thermal contrast change was poorly simulated. The major weakness of FGOALS-s2 was an exaggerated warming response to anthropogenic forcing, with the simulation showing results that were far removed from observations prior to the 1950s. The observations featured warming trends (19062005) of 0.71, 0.68 and 0.79 (100 yr)-1 for global, Northern and Southern Hemispheric averages, which were overestimated by FGOALS-s2 [1.42, 1.52 and 1.13oC (100 yr)-1] but underestimated by FGOALS-g2 [0.69, 0.68 and 0.73oC (100 yr)-1]. The polar amplification of the warming trend was exaggerated in FGOALS-s2 but weakly reproduced in FGOALS-g2. The stronger response of FGOALS-s2 to anthropogenic forcing was caused by strong sea-ice albedo feedback and water vapor feedback. Examination of model results in 15 selected subcontinental-scale regions showed reasonable performance for FGOALS-g2 over most regions. However, the observed warming trends were overestimated by FGOALS-s2 in most regions. Over East Asia, the meridional gradient of the warming trend simulated by FGOALS-s2 (FGOALS-g2) was stronger (weaker) than observed.     

Near future (2016-40) summer precipitation changes over China as projected by a regional climate model (RCM) under the RCP8.5 emissions scenario: Comparison between RCM downscaling and the driving GCM

Multi-decadal high resolution simulations over the CORDEX East Asia domain were performed with the regional climate model RegCM3 nested within the Flexible Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System model, Grid-point Version 2 (FGOALS-g2). Two sets of simulations were conducted at the resolution of 50 km, one for present day (1980–2005) and another for near-future climate (2015–40) under the Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario. Results show that RegCM3 adds value with respect to FGOALS-g2 in simulating the spatial patterns of summer total and extreme precipitation over China for present day climate. The major deficiency is that RegCM3 underestimates both total and extreme precipitation over the Yangtze River valley. The potential changes in total and extreme precipitation over China in summer under the RCP8.5 scenario were analyzed. Both RegCM3 and FGOALS-g2 results show that total and extreme precipitation tend to increase over northeastern China and the Tibetan Plateau, but tend to decrease over southeastern China. In both RegCM3 and FGOALS-g2, the change in extreme precipitation is weaker than that for total precipitation. RegCM3 projects much stronger amplitude of total and extreme precipitation changes and provides more regional-scale features than FGOALS-g2. A large uncertainty is found over the Yangtze River valley, where RegCM3 and FGOALS-g2 project opposite signs in terms of precipitation changes. The projected change of vertically integrated water vapor flux convergence generally follows the changes in total and extreme precipitation in both RegCM3 and FGOALS-g2, while the amplitude of change is stronger in RegCM3. Results suggest that the spatial pattern of projected precipitation changes may be more affected by the changes in water vapor flux convergence, rather than moisture content itself.