Journal ArticleDOI
A methodology for understanding and intercomparing atmospheric climate feedback processes in general circulation models
Robert D. Cess,Gerald L. Potter +1 more
TLDR
In this paper, it is suggested that sea surface temperature perturbations may be used, in conjunction with separation of clear and overcast regions within a model, as a surrogate climatic change for the purpose of understanding and intercomparing atmospheric climate feedback processes.Abstract:
Based upon the need to understand differences between general circulation model projections of climatic change due to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, the present study first categorizes reasons for these differences and presents suggestions for the design of future climate model simulations, so that these specific categories may directly be addressed and understood. Following this, and based upon tutorial use of a radiative-convective model, it is suggested that sea surface temperature perturbations may be used, in conjunction with separation of clear and overcast regions within a model, as a surrogate climatic change for the purpose of understanding and intercomparing atmospheric climate feedback processes. This approach is illustrated through use of the Oregon State University/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory general circulation model, with particular attention being paid to interpreting cloud/climate interactions within the model.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Cloud Feedbacks in the Climate System: A Critical Review
TL;DR: In this article, a critical review of the topic of cloud-climate feedbacks and exposes some of the underlying reasons for the inherent lack of understanding of these feedbacks, and why progress might be expected on this important climate problem in the coming decade.
Journal ArticleDOI
Intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models
R. D. Cess,Gerald L. Potter,J. P. Blanchet,George J. Boer,A. D. Del Genio,Michel Déqué,V. P. Dymnikov,V. Galin,W. L. Gates,Steven J. Ghan,Jeffrey T. Kiehl,Andrew A. Lacis,H. Le Treut,Z. X. Li,Xin-Zhong Liang,B. J. McAvaney,V. P. Meleshko,John F. B. Mitchell,Jean-Jacques Morcrette,David A. Randall,L. Rikus,Erich Roeckner,Jean-François Royer,U. Schlese,D. A. Sheinin,A. Slingo,A. P. Sokolov,Karl E. Taylor,Warren M. Washington,R. T. Wetherald,I. Yagai,Minghua Zhang +31 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provided an intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models and found that a roughly threefold variation in one measure of global climate sensitivity was found among the 19 models.
REVIEW ARTICLE Cloud Feedbacks in the Climate System: A Critical Review
TL;DR: A review of cloud-climate feedbacks can be found in this paper, where it is argued that cloud feedbacks are likely to control the bulk precipitation efficiency and associated responses of the planet's hydrological cycle to climate radiative forcings.
Journal ArticleDOI
The role of surface albedo feedback in climate
TL;DR: In this article, a coarse-resolution coupled ocean-atmosphere simulation in which surface albedo feedback is suppressed by prescribing surface albodyshading is compared to one where snow and sea ice anomalies are allowed to affect surface albeno.
Journal ArticleDOI
Interpretation of Cloud-Climate Feedback as Produced by 14 Atmospheric General Circulation Models
R. D. Cess,Gerald L. Potter,J. P. Blanchet,George J. Boer,Steven J. Ghan,Jeffrey T. Kiehl,H. Le Treut,Z. X. Li,Xin-Zhong Liang,John F. B. Mitchell,Jean-Jacques Morcrette,David A. Randall,M. R. Riches,E. Roeckner,U. Schlese,A. Slingo,Karl E. Taylor,Warren M. Washington,R. T. Wetherald,I. Yagai +19 more
TL;DR: An intercomparison of 14 atmospheric general circulation models showed that there was a roughly threefold variation in global climate sensitivity, a result that emphasizes the need for improvements in the treatment of clouds in these models if they are ultimately to be used as climatic predictors.
References
More filters
Book ChapterDOI
Climate Sensitivity: Analysis of Feedback Mechanisms
James Hansen,Andrew A. Lacis,David Rind,Gary L. Russell,Peter Stone,Inez Fung,R. Ruedy,J. Lerner +7 more
TL;DR: In this article, a 3D global climate model was proposed for experiments in which solar irra- diance So is increased 2 percent or C02 is doubled, and the contributions of different physical processes to the cooling of the last ice age (18K years ago).
Journal ArticleDOI
Cloud Feedback Processes in a General Circulation Model
TL;DR: In this paper, the influence of the cloud feedback process upon the sensitivity of climate is investigated by comparing the behavior of two versions of a climate model with predicted and prescribed cloud cover, and it is found that cloudiness increases around the tropopause and is reduced in the upper troposphere.
Journal ArticleDOI
On the Distribution of Climate Change Resulting from an Increase in CO2 Content of the Atmosphere
TL;DR: The authors used a simple general circulation model with a limited computational domain, highly idealized geography, no seasonal variation of insolation, and a simplified interaction between cloud and radiative transfer.
Journal ArticleDOI
A doubled CO2 climate sensitivity experiment with a global climate model including a simple ocean
C. A. Wilson,J. F. B. Mitchell +1 more
TL;DR: The sensitivity of a global climate model to increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations is presented, assessed, and compared with earlier studies in this paper, where the ocean is represented by a 50m slab in which the heat convergence due to oceanic dynamics is prescribed, producing an accurate simulation of sea surface temperatures, sea-ice extents, and associated features in the control simulation.
Journal ArticleDOI
Seasonal cycle experiment on the climate sensitivity due to a doubling of CO2 with an atmospheric general circulation model coupled to a simple mixed-layer ocean model
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple slab ocean of 50 m depth coupled with a global spectral general circulation model with global domain, realistic geography, and computed clouds is used to simulate the current climate.
Related Papers (5)
Intercomparison and interpretation of climate feedback processes in 19 atmospheric general circulation models
R. D. Cess,Gerald L. Potter,J. P. Blanchet,George J. Boer,A. D. Del Genio,Michel Déqué,V. P. Dymnikov,V. Galin,W. L. Gates,Steven J. Ghan,Jeffrey T. Kiehl,Andrew A. Lacis,H. Le Treut,Z. X. Li,Xin-Zhong Liang,B. J. McAvaney,V. P. Meleshko,John F. B. Mitchell,Jean-Jacques Morcrette,David A. Randall,L. Rikus,Erich Roeckner,Jean-François Royer,U. Schlese,D. A. Sheinin,A. Slingo,A. P. Sokolov,Karl E. Taylor,Warren M. Washington,R. T. Wetherald,I. Yagai,Minghua Zhang +31 more