Connection between atmospheric latent energy and energy fluxes simulated by nine CMIP5 models

The atmospheric latent energy and incoming energy fluxes of the atmosphere are analyzed here based on the historical simulations of nine coupled models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and two reanalysis datasets. The globally averaged atmospheric latent energy is found to be highly correlated with several types of energy flux, particularly the surface latent heat flux, atmosphere absorbed solar radiation flux, and surface net radiation flux. On the basis of these connections, a hydrological cycle controlled feedback (HCCF) is hypothesized. Through this feedback, the atmosphere absorbed solar radiation is enhanced and causes intensification of the surface latent heat flux when the atmospheric latent energy is abnormally strong. The representativeness of the HCCF during different periods and over different latitudinal zones is also discussed. Although such a feedback cannot be confirmed by reanalysis, it proves to be a common mechanism for all the models studied.