The aqua-planet experiment (APE): CONTROL SST simulation

Michael Blackburn, David L. Williamson, Kensuke Nakajima, Wataru Ohfuchi, Yoshiyuki O. Takahashi, Yoshi Yuki Hayashi, Hisashi Nakamura, Masaki Ishiwatari, John L. McGregor, Hartmut Borth, Volkmar Wirth, Helmut Frank, Peter Bechtold, Nils P. Wedi, Hirofumi Tomita, Masaki Satoh, Ming Zhao, Isaac M. Held, Max J. Suarez, Myong In LeeMasahiro Watanabe, Masahide Kimoto, Yimin Liu, Zaizhi Wang, Andrea Molod, Kavirajan Rajendran, Akio Kitoh, Rachel Stratton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

Climate simulations by 16 atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) are compared on an aqua-planet, a water-covered Earth with prescribed sea surface temperature varying only in latitude. The idealised configuration is designed to expose differences in the circulation simulated by different models. Basic features of the aqua-planet climate are characterised by comparison with Earth. The models display a wide range of behaviour. The balanced component of the tropospheric mean flow, and mid-latitude eddy covariances subject to budget constraints, vary relatively little among the models. In contrast, differences in damping in the dynamical core strongly influence transient eddy amplitudes. Historical uncertainty in modelled lower stratospheric temperatures persists in APE. Aspects of the circulation generated more directly by interactions between the resolved fluid dynamics and parameterized moist processes vary greatly. The tropical Hadley circulation forms either a single or double inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) at the equator, with large variations in mean precipitation. The equatorial wave spectrum shows a wide range of precipitation intensity and propagation characteristics. Kelvin mode-like eastward propagation with remarkably constant phase speed dominates in most models. Westward propagation, less dispersive than the equatorial Rossby modes, dominates in a few models or occurs within an eastward propagating envelope in others. The mean structure of the ITCZ is related to precipitation variability, consistent with previous studies. The aqua-planet global energy balance is unknown but the models produce a surprisingly large range of top of atmosphere global net flux, dominated by differences in shortwave reflection by clouds. A number of newly developed models, not optimised for Earth climate, contribute to this. Possible reasons for differences in the optimised models are discussed. The aqua-planet configuration is intended as one component of an experimental hierarchy used to evaluate AGCMs. This comparison does suggest that the range of model behaviour could be better understood and reduced in conjunction with Earth climate simulations. Controlled experimentation is required to explore individual model behaviour and investigate convergence of the aqua-planet climate with increasing resolution.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)17-56
Number of pages40
JournalJournal of the Meteorological Society of Japan
Volume91
Issue number1 A
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Atmospheric Science

Keywords

  • Comparison of atmospheric general circulation models (GCMS)
  • Global energy buget
  • Idealized model configuration
  • Precipitation
  • Tropical wave spectrum

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