Present-Day Atmospheric Simulations Using GISS ModelE: Comparison to In Situ, Satellite, and Reanalysis Data

• DOI: 10.1175/jcli3612.1
• Publication Date: 2006-02-08T15:54:26Z
• Authors: Gavin A. Schmidt; Reto Ruedy; James E. Hansen; Igor Aleinov; Nadine Bell; Mike Bauer; Susanne Bauer; Brian Cairns; Vittorio Canuto; Ye Cheng; Anthony Del Genio; Greg Faluvegi; Andrew D. Friend; Tim M. Hall; Yongyun Hu; Max Kelley; Nancy Y. Kiang; Dorothy Koch; Andy A. Lacis; Jean Lerner; Ken K. Lo; Ron L. Miller; Larissa Nazarenko; Valdar Oinas; Jan Perlwitz; Judith Perlwitz; David Rind; Anastasia Romanou; Gary L. Russell; Makiko Sato; Drew T. Shindell; Peter H. Stone; Shan Sun; Nick Tausnev; Duane Thresher; Mao-Sung Yao
• Keywords: Atmospheric models; Atmospheric Circulation; Forcing (mathematics); Atmospheric models

Abstract A full description of the ModelE version Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) and results are presented present-day climate simulations (ca. 1979). This is a complete rewrite previous models incorporating numerous improvements in basic physics, stratospheric circulation, forcing fields. Notable changes include following: top now above stratopause, number vertical layers has increased, new cloud microphysical scheme used, vegetation biophysics incorporates sensitivity to humidity, turbulence calculated over whole column, land snow lake schemes introduced. The performance using three configurations with different horizontal resolutions compared quality-controlled situ data, remotely sensed reanalysis products. Overall, significant seen, particularly upper-atmosphere temperatures winds, heights, precipitation, sea level pressure. Data–model comparisons continue, however, highlight persistent problems marine stratocumulus regions.