The GFDL CM3 Coupled Climate Model: Characteristics of the Ocean and Sea Ice Simulations

• DOI: 10.1175/2011jcli3964.1
• Publication Date: 2011-04-04T15:49:45Z
• Authors: Stephen M. Griffies; Michael Winton; Leo J. Donner; Larry W. Horowitz; Stephanie M. Downes; Riccardo Farneti; Anand Gnanadesikan; William J. Hurlin; Hyun-Chul Lee; Zhi Liang; Jaime B. Palter; Bonita L. Samuels; Andrew T. Wittenberg; Bruce L. Wyman; Jianjun Yin; Niki Zadeh
• Keywords: Geophysical fluid dynamics; Atmospheric models

Abstract This paper documents time mean simulation characteristics from the ocean and sea ice components in a new coupled climate model developed at NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). The GFDL Climate Model version 3 (CM3) is formulated with effectively same as earlier CM2.1 yet extensive developments made to atmosphere land components. Both CM3 show stable indices, such large-scale circulation surface temperatures (SSTs). There are notable improvements relative CM2.1, including modified SST bias pattern reduced biases Arctic cover. authors anticipate differences between lower latitudes through analysis of atmospheric fluxes corresponding Atmospheric Intercomparison Project (AMIP) simulations. In contrast, changes high dominated by effects absent AMIP interior generally warmer than which adversely impacts biases.