Comparing the Degree of Land–Atmosphere Interaction in Four Atmospheric General Circulation Models

Randal D. Koster Hydrological Sciences Branch, Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Paul A. Dirmeyer Center for Ocean–Land–Atmosphere Studies, Calverton, Maryland

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Andrea N. Hahmann Institute of Atmospheric Physics, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

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Ruben Ijpelaar Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands

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Lori Tyahla Global Science and Technology, Inc., Lanham, Maryland

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Peter Cox Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, Met Office, Berkshire, United Kingdom

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Max J. Suarez Climate and Radiation Branch, Laboratory for Atmospheres, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

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Abstract

The strength of the coupling between the land and the atmosphere, which controls, for example, the degree to which precipitation-induced soil moisture anomalies affect the overlying atmosphere and thereby the subsequent generation of precipitation, has been examined and quantified with many atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). Generally missing from such studies, however, is an indication of the extent to which the simulated coupling strength is model dependent. Four modeling groups have recently performed a highly controlled numerical experiment that allows an objective intermodel comparison of land–atmosphere coupling strength, focusing on short (weekly down to subhourly) timescales. The experiment essentially consists of an ensemble of 1-month simulations in which each member simulation artificially maintains the same (model specific) time series of surface prognostic variables. Differences in atmospheric behavior between the ensemble members then indicate the degree to which the state of the land surface controls atmospheric processes in that model. A comparison of the four sets of experimental results shows that coupling strength does indeed vary significantly among the AGCMs.

Corresponding author address: Randal D. Koster, Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA GSFC Code 974, Greenbelt, MD 20771. Email: randal.koster@gsfc.nasa.gov

Abstract

The strength of the coupling between the land and the atmosphere, which controls, for example, the degree to which precipitation-induced soil moisture anomalies affect the overlying atmosphere and thereby the subsequent generation of precipitation, has been examined and quantified with many atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). Generally missing from such studies, however, is an indication of the extent to which the simulated coupling strength is model dependent. Four modeling groups have recently performed a highly controlled numerical experiment that allows an objective intermodel comparison of land–atmosphere coupling strength, focusing on short (weekly down to subhourly) timescales. The experiment essentially consists of an ensemble of 1-month simulations in which each member simulation artificially maintains the same (model specific) time series of surface prognostic variables. Differences in atmospheric behavior between the ensemble members then indicate the degree to which the state of the land surface controls atmospheric processes in that model. A comparison of the four sets of experimental results shows that coupling strength does indeed vary significantly among the AGCMs.

Corresponding author address: Randal D. Koster, Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA GSFC Code 974, Greenbelt, MD 20771. Email: randal.koster@gsfc.nasa.gov

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