Evaluation of Summer Monsoon Clouds over the Tibetan Plateau Simulated in the ACCESS Model Using Satellite Products

Cloud distribution characteristics over the Tibetan Plateau in the summer monsoon period simulated by the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) model are evaluated using COSP [the CFMIP (Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project) Observation Simulator Package]. The resu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advances in atmospheric sciences 2019-03, Vol.36 (3), p.326-338
Main Authors: Hu, Liang, Sun, Zhian, Deng, Difei, Roff, Greg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access
Atmospheric Sciences
Cloud distribution
Clouds
Computer simulation
Cumulus clouds
Drizzle
Earth
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Evaluation
Fields
Geophysics/Geodesy
High level clouds
Ice clouds
Intercomparison
Meteorology
Monsoon clouds
Monsoons
Original Paper
Plateaus
Precipitation
Radiation
Satellite observation
Satellites
Simulators
Summer
Summer monsoon
Vertical velocities
Water vapor
Water vapour
Wind
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Summary:Cloud distribution characteristics over the Tibetan Plateau in the summer monsoon period simulated by the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) model are evaluated using COSP [the CFMIP (Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project) Observation Simulator Package]. The results show that the ACCESS model simulates less cumulus cloud at atmospheric middle levels when compared with observations from CALIPSO and CloudSat, but more ice cloud at high levels and drizzle drops at low levels. The model also has seasonal biases after the onset of the summer monsoon in May. While observations show that the prevalent high cloud at 9–10 km in spring shifts downward to 7–9 km, the modeled maximum cloud fractions move upward to 12–15 km. The reason for this model deficiency is investigated by comparing model dynamical and thermodynamical fields with those of ERA-Interim. It is found that the lifting effect of the Tibetan Plateau in the ACCESS model is stronger than in ERA-Interim, which means that the vertical velocity in the ACCESS model is stronger and more water vapor is transported to the upper levels of the atmosphere, resulting in more high-level ice clouds and less middle-level cumulus cloud over the Tibetan Plateau. The modeled radiation fields and precipitation are also evaluated against the relevant satellite observations.
ISSN:0256-1530
1861-9533
DOI:10.1007/s00376-018-7301-9