A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period
A fully coupled regional climate system model (CNRM-RCSM4) dedicated to the Mediterranean region is described and evaluated using a multidecadal hindcast simulation (1980–2012) driven by global atmosphere and ocean reanalysis. CNRM-RCSM4 includes the regional representation of the atmosphere (ALADIN...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Stockholm University Press
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Tellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.tellusa.net/index.php/tellusa/article/download/23967/pdf_1 |
| _version_ | 1811252615442333696 |
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| author | Florence Sevault Samuel Somot Antoinette Alias Clotilde Dubois Cindy Lebeaupin-Brossier Pierre Nabat Fanny Adloff Michel Déqué Bertrand Decharme |
| author_facet | Florence Sevault Samuel Somot Antoinette Alias Clotilde Dubois Cindy Lebeaupin-Brossier Pierre Nabat Fanny Adloff Michel Déqué Bertrand Decharme |
| author_sort | Florence Sevault |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A fully coupled regional climate system model (CNRM-RCSM4) dedicated to the Mediterranean region is described and evaluated using a multidecadal hindcast simulation (1980–2012) driven by global atmosphere and ocean reanalysis. CNRM-RCSM4 includes the regional representation of the atmosphere (ALADIN-Climate model), land surface (ISBA model), rivers (TRIP model) and the ocean (NEMOMED8 model), with a daily coupling by the OASIS coupler. This model aims to reproduce the regional climate system with as few constraints as possible: there is no surface salinity, temperature relaxation, or flux correction; the Black Sea budget is parameterised and river runoffs (except for the Nile) are fully coupled. The atmospheric component of CNRM-RCSM4 is evaluated in a companion paper; here, we focus on the air–sea fluxes, river discharges, surface ocean characteristics, deep water formation phenomena and the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation. Long-term stability, mean seasonal cycle, interannual variability and decadal trends are evaluated using basin-scale climatologies and in-situ measurements when available. We demonstrate that the simulation shows overall good behaviour in agreement with state-of-the-art Mediterranean RCSMs. An overestimation of the shortwave radiation and latent heat loss as well as a cold Sea Surface Temperature (SST) bias and a slight trend in the bottom layers are the primary current deficiencies. Further, CNRM-RCSM4 shows high skill in reproducing the interannual to decadal variability for air–sea fluxes, river runoffs, sea surface temperature and salinity as well as open-sea deep convection, including a realistic simulation of the Eastern Mediterranean Transient. We conclude that CNRM-RCSM4 is a mature modelling tool allowing the climate variability of the Mediterranean regional climate system to be studied and understood. It is used in hindcast and scenario modes in the HyMeX and Med-CORDEX programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:37:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-198bda3090584545bd640416acbb9007 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1600-0870 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:37:19Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | Stockholm University Press |
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| series | Tellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography |
| spelling | doaj.art-198bda3090584545bd640416acbb90072022-12-22T03:24:56ZengStockholm University PressTellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography1600-08702014-11-0166013210.3402/tellusa.v66.2396723967A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 periodFlorence Sevault0Samuel Somot1Antoinette Alias2Clotilde Dubois3Cindy Lebeaupin-Brossier4Pierre Nabat5Fanny Adloff6Michel Déqué7Bertrand Decharme8CNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceCNRM-GAME (CNRS/Météo-France), 42, avenue Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse, FranceA fully coupled regional climate system model (CNRM-RCSM4) dedicated to the Mediterranean region is described and evaluated using a multidecadal hindcast simulation (1980–2012) driven by global atmosphere and ocean reanalysis. CNRM-RCSM4 includes the regional representation of the atmosphere (ALADIN-Climate model), land surface (ISBA model), rivers (TRIP model) and the ocean (NEMOMED8 model), with a daily coupling by the OASIS coupler. This model aims to reproduce the regional climate system with as few constraints as possible: there is no surface salinity, temperature relaxation, or flux correction; the Black Sea budget is parameterised and river runoffs (except for the Nile) are fully coupled. The atmospheric component of CNRM-RCSM4 is evaluated in a companion paper; here, we focus on the air–sea fluxes, river discharges, surface ocean characteristics, deep water formation phenomena and the Mediterranean thermohaline circulation. Long-term stability, mean seasonal cycle, interannual variability and decadal trends are evaluated using basin-scale climatologies and in-situ measurements when available. We demonstrate that the simulation shows overall good behaviour in agreement with state-of-the-art Mediterranean RCSMs. An overestimation of the shortwave radiation and latent heat loss as well as a cold Sea Surface Temperature (SST) bias and a slight trend in the bottom layers are the primary current deficiencies. Further, CNRM-RCSM4 shows high skill in reproducing the interannual to decadal variability for air–sea fluxes, river runoffs, sea surface temperature and salinity as well as open-sea deep convection, including a realistic simulation of the Eastern Mediterranean Transient. We conclude that CNRM-RCSM4 is a mature modelling tool allowing the climate variability of the Mediterranean regional climate system to be studied and understood. It is used in hindcast and scenario modes in the HyMeX and Med-CORDEX programs.http://www.tellusa.net/index.php/tellusa/article/download/23967/pdf_1Mediterranean Searegional climate system modelair-sea fluxeshindcast simulationinterannual variability |
| spellingShingle | Florence Sevault Samuel Somot Antoinette Alias Clotilde Dubois Cindy Lebeaupin-Brossier Pierre Nabat Fanny Adloff Michel Déqué Bertrand Decharme A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period Tellus: Series A, Dynamic Meteorology and Oceanography Mediterranean Sea regional climate system model air-sea fluxes hindcast simulation interannual variability |
| title | A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period |
| title_full | A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period |
| title_fullStr | A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period |
| title_full_unstemmed | A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period |
| title_short | A fully coupled Mediterranean regional climate system model: design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980–2012 period |
| title_sort | fully coupled mediterranean regional climate system model design and evaluation of the ocean component for the 1980 2012 period |
| topic | Mediterranean Sea regional climate system model air-sea fluxes hindcast simulation interannual variability |
| url | http://www.tellusa.net/index.php/tellusa/article/download/23967/pdf_1 |
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