Southern Hemisphere jet latitude biases in CMIP5 models linked to shortwave cloud forcing

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2012 papers

Abstract

Substantial biases in shortwave cloud forcing (SWCF) of up to ±30 W m −2 are found in the midlatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere in the historical simulations of 34 CMIP5 coupled general circulation models. The SWCF biases are shown to induce surface temperature anomalies localized in the midlatitudes, and are significantly correlated with the mean latitude of the eddy‐driven jet, with a negative SWCF bias corresponding to an equatorward jet latitude bias. Aquaplanet model experiments are performed to demonstrate that the jet latitude biases are primarily induced by the midlatitude SWCF anomalies, such that the jet moves toward (away from) regions of enhanced (reduced) temperature gradients. The results underline the necessity of accurately representing cloud radiative forcings in state‐of‐the‐art coupled models.

Related Papers

• → Comparison of cloud forcing derived from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment with that simulated by the NCAR community climate model(1990)132 cited
• → Cloud Radiation Forcings and Feedbacks: General Circulation Model Tests and Observational Validation(1997)37 cited
• → Shortwave radiative forcing of clouds and aerosols over China from 1998 to 2002(2010)1 cited
• → Shortwave radiative effects of clouds as derived from ISCCP C1 data(1994)
• → Midlatitude cyclone processes as a key to understanding climate sensitivity(2020)