Abstract
The snow-sea-ice albedo parameterization in an atmospheric general circulation model (GCM), coupled to a simple mixed-layer ocean and run with an annual cycle of solar forcing, is altered from a version of the same model described by Washington and Meehl (1984). The model with the revised formulation is run to equilibrium for 1 × CO2 and 2 × CO2 experiments. The 1 ×CO2 (control) simulation produces a global mean climate about 1° warmer than the original version, and sea-ice extent is reduced. The model with the altered parameterization displays heightened sensitivity in the global means, but the geographical patterns of climate change due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) are qualitatively similar. The magnitude of the climate change is affected, not only in areas directly influenced by snow and ice changes but also in other regions of the globe, including the tropics where sea-surface temperature, evaporation, and precipitation over the oceans are greater. With the less-sensitive formulation, the global mean surface air temperature increase is 3.5 °C, and the increase of global mean precipitation is 7.12%. The revised formulation produces a globally averaged surface air temperature increase of 4.04 °C and a precipitation increase of 7.25%, as well as greater warming of the upper tropical troposphere. Sensitivity of surface hydrology is qualitatively similar between the two cases with the larger-magnitude changes in the revised snow and ice-albedo scheme experiment. Variability of surface air temperature in the model is comparable to observations in most areas except at high latitudes during winter. In those regions, temporal variation of the sea-ice margin and fluctuations of snow cover dependent on the snow-ice-albedo formulation contribute to larger-than-observed temperature variability. This study highlights an uncertainty associated with results from current climate GCMs that use highly parameterized snow-sea-ice albedo schemes with simple mixed-layer ocean models.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bates, G. and Meehl, G. A.: 1986, ‘The Effect of CO2 Concentration on the Frequency of Blocking in a General Circulation Model Coupled to a Simple Mixed Layer Ocean’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 114, 687–701.
Bryan, K.: 1969, ‘Climate and Ocean Circulation. Part II. The Ocean Model’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 97, 828–829.
Cess, R. D. and Potter, G. L.: 1988, ‘A Methodology for Understanding and Intercomparing Atmospheric Climate Feedback Processes in General Circulation Models’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 8305–8314.
Dickinson, R. E., Meehl, G. A., and Washington, W. M.: 1987, ‘Ice-Albedo Feedback in a CO2 Doubling Simulation’, Climatic Change 10, 241–248.
Hibler, W. D., III: 1979, ‘A Dynamic Thermodynamic Sea Ice Model’, J. Phys. Oceanogr. 9, 815–846.
Ingram, W. M., Wilson, C. A., and Mitchell, J. F. B.: 1989, ‘Modeling Climate Change: An Assessment of Sea Ice and Surface Albedo Feedbacks’, J. Geophys. Res. 94, 8609–8622.
Manabe, S. and Wetherald, R. T.: 1975, ‘The Effects of Doubling the CO2 Concentration on the Climate of a General Circulation Model’, J. Atmos. Sci. 32, 3–15.
Manabe, S. and Wetherald, R. T.: 1987: ‘Large-Scale Changes of Soil Wetness Induced by an Increase in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide’, J. Atmos. Sci. 44, 1211–1235.
Meehl, G. A.: 1984, ‘Modeling the Earth's Climate’, Climatic Change 6, 259–286.
Meehl, G. A. and Washington, W. M.: 1985, ‘Sea Surface Temperatures Computed by a Simple Ocean Mixed Layer Coupled to an Atmospheric GCM’, J. Phys. Oceanogr. 15, 92–104.
Meehl, G. A. and Washington, W. M.: 1986, ‘Tropical Response to Increased CO2 in a GCM with a Simple Mixed Layer Ocean: Similarities to an Observed Pacific Warm Event’, Mon. Wea. Rev. 114, 667–674.
Meehl, G. A. and Washington, W. M.: 1988, ‘A Comparison of Soil-Moisture Sensitivity in Two Global Climate Models’, J. Atmos. Sci. 45, 1476–1492.
Parkinson, C. L. and Washington, W. M.: 1979, ‘A Large-Scale Numerical Model of Sea Ice’, J. Geophys. Res. 84, 311–337.
Schlesinger, M. E. and Mitchell, J. F. B.: 1987, ‘Climate Model Simulations of the Equilibrium Climatic Response to Increased Carbon Dioxide’, Rev. Geophys. 25, 760–798.
Semtner, A. J.: 1976, ‘A Model for the Thermodynamic Growth of Sea Ice in Numerical Investigations of Climate’, J. Phys. Oceanogr. 6, 379–389.
Semtner, A. J.: 1987, ‘A Numerical Study of Sea Ice and Ocean Circulation in the Arctic’, J. Phys. Oceanogr. 17, 1077–1099.
Spelman, M. J. and Manabe, S.: 1984, ‘Influence of Oceanic Heat Transport Upon the Sensitivity of a Model Climate’, J. Geophys. Res. 89, 571–586.
Trenberth, K. E. and Olson, J. G.: 1988, ECMWF Global Analyses 1979–1986: Circulation Statistics and Data Evaluation, NCAR Technical Note, NCAR/TN-300+STR, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 94 pp.
Washington, W. M. and Meehl, G. A.: 1983, ‘General Circulation Model Experiments on the Climatic Effects Due to a Doubling and Quadrupling of Carbon Dioxide Concentrations’, J. Geophys. Res. 88, 6600–6610.
Washington, W. M. and Meehl, G. A.: 1984, ‘Seasonal Cycle Experiment on the Climate Sensitivity Due to a Doubling of CO2 with an Atmospheric General Circulation Model Coupled to a Simple Mixed Layer Ocean Model’, J. Geophys. Res. 89, 9475–9503.
Washington, W. M. and Meehl, G. A.: 1986, ‘General Circulation Model CO2 Sensitivity Experiments: Snow-Sea Ice Albedo Parameterizations and Globally Averaged Surface Air Temperature’, Climatic Change 8, 231–241.
Washington, W. M. and Meehl, G. A.: 1989, ‘Climate Sensitivity Due to Increased CO2: Experiments with a Coupled Atmosphere and Ocean General Circulation Model’, Climate Dynamics 4, 1–38.
Washington, W. M. and VerPlank, L.: 1986, A Description of Coupled General Circulation Models of the Atmosphere and Oceans Used for Carbon Dioxide Studies, NCAR Technical Note, NCAR/TN-271+EDD, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 29 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meehl, G.A., Washington, W.M. CO2 climate sensitivity and snow-sea-ice albedo parameterization in an atmospheric GCM coupled to a mixed-layer ocean model. Climatic Change 16, 283–306 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00144505
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00144505