Why simulating the ITCZ in GCMs is so difficult

Winston C. Chao; M. J. Suarez; J. T. Bacmeister; B. Chen; L. L. Takacs

Why simulating the ITCZ in GCMs is so difficult

Winston C. Chao, M. J. Suarez, J. T. Bacmeister, B. Chen, L. L. Takacs

Atmospheric Modeling and Predictability

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in global climate models (GCMs) is highly sensitive to model physics, specifically in cumulus parameterization scheme. In a study where an aqua-planet GCM with a zonally uniform sea surface temperature (SST) and a global-scale Gaussian latitudinal profile together with a pole-to-Equator difference of 29°C was used, the GCM was having difficulty in representing the forcing of the ITCZ of which a double ITCZ error was always occurring when a dotted curve is used. This dilemma is mainly caused by lacked of understanding in model physics, particularly in scheme. In order to remove the ITCZ systematic error, a change in model physics must be considered.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1024-1025
Number of pages	2
Journal	Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
Volume	88
Issue number	7
State	Published - Jul 2007

Cite this

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abstract = "The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in global climate models (GCMs) is highly sensitive to model physics, specifically in cumulus parameterization scheme. In a study where an aqua-planet GCM with a zonally uniform sea surface temperature (SST) and a global-scale Gaussian latitudinal profile together with a pole-to-Equator difference of 29°C was used, the GCM was having difficulty in representing the forcing of the ITCZ of which a double ITCZ error was always occurring when a dotted curve is used. This dilemma is mainly caused by lacked of understanding in model physics, particularly in scheme. In order to remove the ITCZ systematic error, a change in model physics must be considered.",

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AU - Chao, Winston C.

AU - Suarez, M. J.

AU - Bacmeister, J. T.

AU - Chen, B.

AU - Takacs, L. L.

PY - 2007/7

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N2 - The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in global climate models (GCMs) is highly sensitive to model physics, specifically in cumulus parameterization scheme. In a study where an aqua-planet GCM with a zonally uniform sea surface temperature (SST) and a global-scale Gaussian latitudinal profile together with a pole-to-Equator difference of 29°C was used, the GCM was having difficulty in representing the forcing of the ITCZ of which a double ITCZ error was always occurring when a dotted curve is used. This dilemma is mainly caused by lacked of understanding in model physics, particularly in scheme. In order to remove the ITCZ systematic error, a change in model physics must be considered.

AB - The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in global climate models (GCMs) is highly sensitive to model physics, specifically in cumulus parameterization scheme. In a study where an aqua-planet GCM with a zonally uniform sea surface temperature (SST) and a global-scale Gaussian latitudinal profile together with a pole-to-Equator difference of 29°C was used, the GCM was having difficulty in representing the forcing of the ITCZ of which a double ITCZ error was always occurring when a dotted curve is used. This dilemma is mainly caused by lacked of understanding in model physics, particularly in scheme. In order to remove the ITCZ systematic error, a change in model physics must be considered.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/34548027052

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AN - SCOPUS:34548027052

SN - 0003-0007

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SP - 1024

EP - 1025

JO - Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

JF - Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

IS - 7

ER -

Why simulating the ITCZ in GCMs is so difficult

Abstract

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