Sensitivity of a Coupled Single-Column Model in the Tropics to Treatment of the Interfacial Parameterizations

• DOI: 10.1175/1520-0442(2002)015<1805:soacsc>2.0.co;2
• Publication Date: 2002-10-11T17:56:59Z
• Authors: Carol Anne Clayson; Aidong Chen
• Keywords: Buoy; Atmospheric models; Tropical Atlantic; Mixed layer

A coupled atmosphere–ocean single-column model has been developed for testing tropical ocean–atmosphere feedbacks. The is evaluated against observational data (both in situ and satellite) during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) intensive observation period. able to successfully reproduce variations cloud parameters surface fluxes; also overestimates latent sensible heat fluxes compared observations. overestimation most likely due errors atmospheric layer temperature specific humidity. sea temperatures produced by are reasonable. mean bias as buoy 0°C; maximum deviation from observed 0.4°C. This then used investigate sensitivity of ocean system included interfacial parameterization Pacific. results turbulent flux version shown produce daily averaged over 0.5°C. Of equal significance variation response different depths water column. Use typically cooler skin rather than at depth strong differences profiles heat, moisture, properties. These not caused solely difference temperature, but much-reduced diurnal depth. extent which a changes resulting depends on whether variability was strong; under low-wind conditions dramatic.