On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback
Abstract This study explores the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback. Six diagnostic cloud schemes used in various CMIP (Coupled Model Intercomparison Experiment] climate models are implemented (at low and midlevels) into two testbed climate models, and th...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2016MS000846 |
| _version_ | 1827859305525673984 |
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| author | O. Geoffroy S. C. Sherwood D. Fuchs |
| author_facet | O. Geoffroy S. C. Sherwood D. Fuchs |
| author_sort | O. Geoffroy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study explores the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback. Six diagnostic cloud schemes used in various CMIP (Coupled Model Intercomparison Experiment] climate models are implemented (at low and midlevels) into two testbed climate models, and the impacts on cloud feedback are investigated. Results suggest that the choice of stratiform cloud scheme may contribute up to roughly half of the intermodel spread of cloud radiative responses in stratocumulus (Sc) regions, and may determine or favor a given sign of the feedback there. Cloud schemes assuming a probability density function for total water content consistently predict a positive feedback in Sc regions in our experiments. A large negative feedback in Sc regions is obtained only with schemes that consider variables other than relative humidity (e.g., stability). The stratiform cloud scheme also significantly affects cloud feedback at the scale of the tropics and at global scale. Results are slightly less consistent for tropical means, likely indicating coupling with other boundary layer processes such as convective mixing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:07:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8523fd6397984851bb625d849fb40dc2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1942-2466 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:07:25Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-8523fd6397984851bb625d849fb40dc22023-08-28T13:36:50ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems1942-24662017-03-019142343710.1002/2016MS000846On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedbackO. Geoffroy0S. C. Sherwood1D. Fuchs2Climate Change Research CentreUniversity of New South WalesSydney New South Wales AustraliaClimate Change Research CentreUniversity of New South WalesSydney New South Wales AustraliaClimate Change Research CentreUniversity of New South WalesSydney New South Wales AustraliaAbstract This study explores the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback. Six diagnostic cloud schemes used in various CMIP (Coupled Model Intercomparison Experiment] climate models are implemented (at low and midlevels) into two testbed climate models, and the impacts on cloud feedback are investigated. Results suggest that the choice of stratiform cloud scheme may contribute up to roughly half of the intermodel spread of cloud radiative responses in stratocumulus (Sc) regions, and may determine or favor a given sign of the feedback there. Cloud schemes assuming a probability density function for total water content consistently predict a positive feedback in Sc regions in our experiments. A large negative feedback in Sc regions is obtained only with schemes that consider variables other than relative humidity (e.g., stability). The stratiform cloud scheme also significantly affects cloud feedback at the scale of the tropics and at global scale. Results are slightly less consistent for tropical means, likely indicating coupling with other boundary layer processes such as convective mixing.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016MS000846radiative feedbackinter‐model spreadstratiform cloud schemeclimate sensitivitylow cloud coverstratocumulus |
| spellingShingle | O. Geoffroy S. C. Sherwood D. Fuchs On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems radiative feedback inter‐model spread stratiform cloud scheme climate sensitivity low cloud cover stratocumulus |
| title | On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback |
| title_full | On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback |
| title_fullStr | On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback |
| title_short | On the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter‐model spread of cloud feedback |
| title_sort | on the role of the stratiform cloud scheme in the inter model spread of cloud feedback |
| topic | radiative feedback inter‐model spread stratiform cloud scheme climate sensitivity low cloud cover stratocumulus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2016MS000846 |
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