TY - JOUR
T1 - Northern Hemisphere atmospheric blocking as simulated by 15 atmospheric general circulation models in the period 1979-1988
AU - D'Andrea, F.
AU - Tibaldi, S.
AU - Blackburn, M.
AU - Boer, G.
AU - Déqué, M.
AU - Dix, M. R.
AU - Dugas, B.
AU - Ferranti, L.
AU - Iwasaki, T.
AU - Kitoh, A.
AU - Pope, V.
AU - Randall, D.
AU - Roeckner, E.
AU - Straus, D.
AU - Stern, W.
AU - Van Den Dool, H.
AU - Williamson, D.
PY - 1998/6/1
Y1 - 1998/6/1
N2 - As a part of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP), the behaviour of 15 general circulation models has been analysed in order to diagnose and compare the ability of the different models in simulating Northern Hemisphere midlatitude atmospheric blocking. In accordance with the established AMIP procedure, the 10-year model integrations were performed using prescribed, time-evolving monthly mean observed SSTs spanning the period January 1979-December 1988. Atmospheric observational data (ECMWF analyses) over the same period have been also used to verify the models results. The models involved in this comparison represent a wide spectrum of model complexity, with different horizontal and vertical resolution, numerical techniques and physical parametrizations, and exhibit large differences in blocking behaviour. Nevertheless, a few common features can be found, such as the general tendency to underestimate both blocking frequency and the average duration of blocks. The problem of the possible relationship between model blocking and model systematic errors has also been assessed, although without resorting to ad-hoc numerical experimentation it is impossible to relate with certainty particular model deficiencies in representing blocking to precise parts of the model formulation.
AB - As a part of the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP), the behaviour of 15 general circulation models has been analysed in order to diagnose and compare the ability of the different models in simulating Northern Hemisphere midlatitude atmospheric blocking. In accordance with the established AMIP procedure, the 10-year model integrations were performed using prescribed, time-evolving monthly mean observed SSTs spanning the period January 1979-December 1988. Atmospheric observational data (ECMWF analyses) over the same period have been also used to verify the models results. The models involved in this comparison represent a wide spectrum of model complexity, with different horizontal and vertical resolution, numerical techniques and physical parametrizations, and exhibit large differences in blocking behaviour. Nevertheless, a few common features can be found, such as the general tendency to underestimate both blocking frequency and the average duration of blocks. The problem of the possible relationship between model blocking and model systematic errors has also been assessed, although without resorting to ad-hoc numerical experimentation it is impossible to relate with certainty particular model deficiencies in representing blocking to precise parts of the model formulation.
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U2 - 10.1007/s003820050230
DO - 10.1007/s003820050230
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0031720051
VL - 14
SP - 385
EP - 407
JO - Climate Dynamics
JF - Climate Dynamics
SN - 0930-7575
IS - 6
ER -