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Impact of different convective cloud schemes on the simulation of the tropical seasonal cycle in a coupled ocean–atmosphere model

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Abstract

The simulation of the mean seasonal cycle of sea surface temperature (SST) remains a challenge for coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation models (OAGCMs). Here we investigate how the numerical representation of clouds and convection affects the simulation of the seasonal variations of tropical SST. For this purpose, we compare simulations performed with two versions of the same OAGCM differing only by their convection and cloud schemes. Most of the atmospheric temperature and precipitation differences between the two simulations reflect differences found in atmosphere-alone simulations. They affect the ocean interior down to 1,000 m. Substantial differences are found between the two coupled simulations in the seasonal march of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the eastern part of the Pacific and Atlantic basins, where the equatorial upwelling develops. The results confirm that the distribution of atmospheric convection between ocean and land during the American and African boreal summer monsoons plays a key role in maintaining a cross equatorial flow and a strong windstress along the equator, and thereby the equatorial upwelling. Feedbacks between convection, large-scale circulation, SST and clouds are highlighted from the differences between the two simulations. In one case, these feedbacks maintain the ITCZ in a quite realistic position, whereas in the other case the ITCZ is located too far south close to the equator.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all IPSL people who participate to the development of the IPSL_CM4 model. We also thank Laurent Fairhead for the introduction of the convection schemes in the LMDZ model, and Ionela Musat for the adjustments of the climatology. Computer time was provided by Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (IDRIS computing center) and Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (centre CCRT computing center). This work is a contribution to the european project ENSEMBLES (Project no. GOCE-CT-2003-505539) and to the french project PNEDC-MC2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IPSL/LSCE, unité mixte CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Bât.712, Orme des Merisiers, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France

    P. Braconnot & O. Marti

  2. IPSL/LMD, Unité mixte CNRS-Ecole Polytechnique-ENS-UPMC, case 99, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252, Paris cedex 05, France

    F. Hourdin, S. Bony, J. L. Dufresne & J. Y. Grandpeix

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  1. P. Braconnot
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  2. F. Hourdin
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  3. S. Bony
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  4. J. L. Dufresne
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  5. J. Y. Grandpeix
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  6. O. Marti
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Correspondence to P. Braconnot.

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Braconnot, P., Hourdin, F., Bony, S. et al. Impact of different convective cloud schemes on the simulation of the tropical seasonal cycle in a coupled ocean–atmosphere model. Clim Dyn 29, 501–520 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-007-0244-y

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