Abstract
The improvement of the accuracy of simulated cloud-related variables, such as the cloud fraction, in global climate models (GCMs) is still a challenging problem in climate modeling. In this study, the influence of cloud microphysics schemes (one-moment versus two-moment schemes) and cloud overlap methods (observation-based versus a fixed vertical decorrelation length) on the simulated cloud fraction was assessed in the BCC_AGCM2.0_CUACE/Aero. Compared with the fixed decorrelation length method, the observation-based approach produced a significantly improved cloud fraction both globally and for four representative regions. The utilization of a two-moment cloud microphysics scheme, on the other hand, notably improved the simulated cloud fraction compared with the one-moment scheme; specifically, the relative bias in the global mean total cloud fraction decreased by 42.9%–84.8%. Furthermore, the total cloud fraction bias decreased by 6.6% in the boreal winter (DJF) and 1.64% in the boreal summer (JJA). Cloud radiative forcing globally and in the four regions improved by 0.3%–1.2% and 0.2%–2.0%, respectively. Thus, our results showed that the interaction between clouds and climate through microphysical and radiation processes is a key contributor to simulation uncertainty.
摘要
在全球气候模式(GCM)中, 如何提高云相关模拟变量(如: 云量等)的准确性仍然是气候模式模拟中具有挑战性的问题. 本文利用BCC_AGCM2.0_CUACE/Aero全球气候模式, 评估了云微物理方案(单参数和双参数方案)和云重叠处理方法(基于观测的抗相关厚度Lcf和全球取固定值的Lcf)对模拟云相关变量的影响. 一方面, 与取全球平均值Lcf模拟的总云量结果相比, 基于观测的Lcf得到的总云量在全球以及四个典型区域的模拟精度均有所提升, 冬夏两季总云量的误差分别减少6.6%和1.64%. 另一方面, 利用双参数云微物理方案模拟的总云量与单参数模拟结果相比也有所提升, 全球平均总云量的相对偏差下降约42.9%-84.8%. 全球和四个典型地区云辐射强迫的模拟精度也有所提升, 分别提升0.3%-1.2%和0.2%-2.0%. 结果表明, 在气候模式中对云的微物理过程和云辐射过程的不同描述直接影响模式对云相关物理量的模拟精度. 采用双参数云微物理方案以及与观测相一致的时空变化的Lcf, 可以减少气候模拟特别是云模拟的不确定性.
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Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFA0603502), (Key) National Natural Science Foundation of China (91644211), S&T Development Fund of CAMS (2021KJ004).
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Article Highlights
• The utilization of a two-moment cloud microphysics scheme notably improved the simulated cloud-related variables.
• The observation-based approach produced a significantly improved cloud fraction both globally and for four representative regions.
• In the two-moment cloud microphysics scheme, observation-based vertical decorrelation length improved the simulations more obviously than in fixed vertical decorrelation length.
This paper is a contribution to the special issue on Cloud-Aerosol-Radiation-Precipitation Interaction: Progress and Challenges.
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Wang, H., Zhang, H., Xie, B. et al. Evaluating the Impacts of Cloud Microphysical and Overlap Parameters on Simulated Clouds in Global Climate Models. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 39, 2172–2187 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-021-0369-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-021-0369-7