Boreal Summer Synoptic-Scale Waves over the Western North Pacific in Multimodel Simulations

Zhao, Haikun; Jiang, Xianan; Wu, Liguang

doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0696.1

i

Boreal Summer Synoptic-Scale Waves over the Western North Pacific in Multimodel Simulations

2016
By Zhao, Haikun ; Jiang, Xianan ; Wu, Liguang

Details

Journal Title:

Journal of Climate
Personal Author:

Zhao, Haikun ; Jiang, Xianan ; Wu, Liguang
NOAA Program & Office:

OAR (Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) ; CPO (Climate Program Office)
Description:

During boreal summer, vigorous synoptic-scale wave (SSW) activity, often evident as southeast–northwest-oriented wave trains, prevails over the western North Pacific (WNP). In spite of their active role for regional weather and climate, modeling studies on SSWs are rather limited. In this study, a comprehensive survey on climate model capability in representing the WNP SSWs is conducted by analyzing simulations from 27 recent general circulation models (GCMs). Results suggest that it is challenging for GCMs to realistically represent the observed SSWs. Only 2 models out of the 27 GCMs generally well simulate both the intensity and spatial pattern of the observed SSW mode. Plausible key processes for realistic simulations of SSW activity are further explored. It is illustrated that GCM skill in representing the spatial pattern of the SSW is highly correlated to its skill in simulating the summer mean patterns of the low-level convergence associated with the WNP monsoon trough and conversion from eddy available potential energy (EAPE) to eddy kinetic energy (EKE). Meanwhile, simulated SSW intensity is found to be significantly correlated to the amplitude of 850-hPa vorticity, divergence, and conversion from EAPE to EKE over the WNP. The observed modulations of SSW activity by the Madden–Julian oscillation are able to be captured in several model simulations.
Keywords:

Synoptic Meteorology Weather Forecasting Synoptic Meteorology Weather Forecasting
Source:

Journal of Climate, 29(12): 4487-4508
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0696.1
Document Type:

Journal Article
Funding:

Grant no. NA12OAR4310075 ; Grant no. NA15OAR4310098 ; Grant no. NA15OAR4310177
Place as Subject:

North Pacific Ocean
Rights Information:

Other
Compliance:

Submitted
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:7193ed23784a29274b8b0310a2d5ccb7b2f9bfc3eab21382d9fa2a5b5d910f98
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/28484/noaa_28484_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 2.46 MB ]

ON THIS PAGE

Details

The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners. As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.