A methodology study of the validation of clouds in GCMs using ISCCP satellite observations

The cloudiness fields simulated by a general circulation model and a validation using the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) satellite observations are presented. An adapted methodology is developed, in which the issue of the sub-grid scale variability of the cloud fields, and how it may affect the comparison exercise, is considered carefully. In particular different assumptions about the vertical overlap of cloud layers are made, allowing us to reconstruct the cloud distribution inside a model grid column. Carrying out an analysis directly comparable to that of ISCCP then becomes possible. The relevance of this method is demonstrated by its application to the evaluation of the cloud schemes used in Laboratoire de Météoroligie Dynamique (LMD) general circulation model. We compare cloud properties, such as cloud-top height and cloud optical thickness, analysed by ISCCP and simulated by the LMD GCM. The results show that a direct comparison of simulated low cloudiness and that shown from satellites is not possible. They also reveal some model deficiencies concerning the cloud vertical distribution. Some of these features depend little on the cloud overlap assumption and may reveal inadequate parameterisation of the boundary layer mixing or the cloud water precipitation rate. High convective clouds also appear to be too thick.     

气象卫星高空间分辨率数据的云量计算与检验

该文利用国家卫星气象中心1998—2008年NOAA卫星的存档数据,在再定标和精定位等数据再处理基础上,利用自行研发的云检测算法及云量计算方法,生成空间分辨率为0.01°×0.01°、时间尺度为10年的逐日云量数据,并利用ISCCP和地面观测数据对计算得到的云参数进行数据质量评估。评估结果显示:利用NOAA数据的抽样云检测结果与ISCCP-DX数据相比,晴空像元检测率具有0.70左右的一致性;有云像元检测率具有60%左右的一致性。卫星计算的总云量与地面观测总云量间的月平均相关系数大于0.70。     

FGOALS2两个模式版本对青藏高原东侧冬季层云的模拟特征

冬季青藏高原东部（22°N～32°N，102°E～118°E）层云区是唯一存在于副热带陆地的层云密集区，环流特征较为复杂，大多数耦合气候系统模式对该地区层云的模拟存在较大的偏差。对该地区层云模拟能力的系统分析评估是改进模式性能的重要基础。本文基于国际卫星云计划（ISCCP）卫星资料，评估了中国科学院大气物理研究所两个版本的气候系统模式FGOALS-s2和FGOALS-g2的大气环流模式试验（AMIP）对青藏高原东侧层云的模拟能力。通过分析云辐射强迫等相关特征、大气环流、稳定度、以及地表气温和云的关系，探讨了模式偏差的可能原因。结果表明，两个模式都不同程度地低估了青藏高原东侧的低层云量和云水含量。在垂直结构模拟方面，FGOALS-s2模式能较好地模拟出高原东侧低云主导的特征，其模拟的云顶高度与卫星资料更为接近；而FGOALS-g2模式则高估了该地区的平均云顶高度。分析表明，两个模式均低估了高原东侧的低层稳定度，同时不同程度地低估了该地区中低层水平水汽输送，导致层云云量的模拟偏少。此外，FGOALS-g2高估了高原东侧的上升运动和垂直水汽输送，使得模拟的低云偏少而云顶高度偏高。     

Cloud climate investigations in the Nordic region using NOAA AVHRR data

Summary A method to estimate monthly cloud conditions (monthly cloud frequencies) from multispectral satellite imagery is described. The operational cloud classification scheme SCANDIA (the SMHI Cloud ANalysis model using DIgital AVHRR data), based on high resolution imagery from the polar orbiting NOAA-satellites, has been used to produce monthly cloud frequencies for the entire year of 1993 and some additional months in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995. Cloud analyses were made for an area covering the Nordic countries with a horizontal resolution of four km. Examples of seasonal, monthly and diurnal variation in cloud conditions are given and an annual mean for 1993 is presented.Comparisons with existing surface observations showed very good agreement for horizontal cloud distributions but approximately 5% smaller cloud amounts were found in the satellite estimations. The most evident problems were encountered in the winter season due to difficulties in identifying low-level cloudiness at very low sun elevations. The underestimation in the summer season was partly fictious and caused by the overestimation of convective cloud cover by surface observers.SCANDIA results were compared to ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) cloud climatologies for two selected months in 1991 and 1992. ISCCP cloudiness was indicated to be higher, especially during the month with anticyclonic conditions where a cloudiness excess of more than 10% were found. The regional variation of cloud conditions in the area was found to be inadequately described by ISCCP cloud climatologies. An improvement of the horizontal resolution of ISCCP data seems necessary to enable use for regional applications.The SCANDIA model is proposed as a valuable tool for local and regional monitoring of the cloud climatology at high latitudes. More extensive comparisons with ISCCP cloud climatologies are suggested as well as comparisons with modelled cloudiness from atmospheric general circulation models and climate models. Special studies of cloud conditions in the Polar areas are also proposed.With 14 Figures     

西北地区不同类型云的时空分布及其与降水的关系

利用1983年7月～2001年9月国际卫星云气候计划ISCCP D2的月平均资料，对西北不同区域不同类型云的云量和云水路径的时空分布及其与降水的关系进行了研究。结果表明:高原气候区是各种云出现最多的地区，特别是积状云的云量明显高于其他两区，但这些云的云水路径值低；西北地区大多数云云量的高值区出现在天山山区、北疆地区、陕西东南部和青藏高原的部分地区。高云和部分中云云量空间分布特征与降水有着较好的一致性:沿着天山—昆仑山—祁连山一带以及陕南和／或陇南地区是高值区，低值区在塔里木盆地—内蒙古西部戈壁沙漠—黄土高原西北部一带；绝大多数云类春夏季节云量维持较高，秋冬季节云量较少。云水路径值较大的层状云类的云量多寡与降水多寡相一致；积状云类和层积云类云量多少与降水没有一定的关系，在降水偏少时，这类云的云量大多与降水正常时相近，有些云的云量甚至比降水偏多时还要多。     

总云量产品在中国区域的分析检验

对ISCCP、常规观测以及MODIS总云量3种目前使用较多的总云量资料进行对比分析, 重点考察时间序列较长的ISCCP和常规观测总云量, 给出定量对比结果, 为使用这3种总云量资料的用户提供参考。研究表明:ISCCP与常规观测总云量相比, 7月二者的空间分布具有很好的一致性, 但白天ISCCP总云量比常规观测总云量多, 夜间却往往比常规观测总云量少, 二者误差分布表现为东部和东南部小于西北部的特征; 而1月二者空间分布比较一致, 但是在天山和东北地区高、低值中心经常不匹配, 这两个区域总云量资料需慎用; 7月ISCCP总云量精度明显高于1月。ISCCP、常规观测以及MODIS总云量对比结果表明:1月MODIS总云量比其他两种资料大, 而7月为最小。相对常规观测, 1月ISCCP总云量精度优于MODIS, 而7月MODIS总云量略优于ISCCP。     

Variability and Long-Term Trend of Total Cloud Cover in China Derived from ISCCP, ERA-40, CRU3, and Ground Station Datasets

Total Cloud Cover (TCC) over China determined from four climate datasets including the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), the 40-year Re-Analysis Project of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ERA-40), Climate Research Unit Time Series 3.0 (CRU3), and ground station datasets are used to show spatial and temporal variation of TCC and their differences. It is demonstrated that the four datasets show similar spatial pattern and seasonal variation. The maximum value is derived from ISCCP. TCC value in North China derived from ERA-40 is 50% larger than that from the station dataset; however, the value is 50% less than that in South China. The annual TCC of ISCCP, ERA-40, and ground station datasets shows a decreasing trend during 1984-2002; however, an increasing trend is derived from CRU3. The results of this study imply remarkable differences of TCC derived from surface and satellite observations as well as model simulations. The potential effects of these differences on cloud climatology and associated climatic issues should be carefully considered.     

Cloud Properties and Its Relation to Precipitation over Northwest China

The temporal and spatial distribution of cloud properties over Northwest China has been analyzed using the ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) monthly mean D2 data from July 1983 to September 2001. The result shows that the regional average total cloud amount, optical thickness, and water path are 52.5%-58.3%, 2.6-6.6, and 44.9-77.6 g m-2, respectively. The major feature of spatial distribution is that higher value areas of cloud properties are all over Tianshan, Kunlun, and Qilian Mountains, while the lower values of cloud properties are over Tarim Basin, the western desert of Inner Mongolia, and the northwestern part of the Loess Plateau. The higher values of cloud amounts are generally associated with higher level of precipitation. For example, the amounts of stratiform clouds with large water path values are good consistent with precipitation. But the amounts of cumuliform and stratocumuliform clouds do not have de nite relation to precipitation.     

ISCCP产品和我国地面观测总云量差异

国际卫星云气候计划ISCCP是国际上较权威和客观的云气候性研究计划, 自1983年以来为研究全球云和辐射平衡、云水资源分布等提供了有价值的数据。在分析总云量卫星和地面两种观测方式差异的基础上, 研究了1984-2006年ISCCP D2产品和我国地面观测云资料数据集总云量空间及时间差异。尽管两套资料能一致揭示我国总云量的分布形势和气候变化特征, 但区域性差异仍比较明显。天基、地基数据可对比格点上, 全国平均而言总云量卫星观测结果比地面观测偏高8.46%, 华南地区差异最小、东北地区差异最大。气候变化趋势分析结果表明:近23年我国总云量呈减少趋势, ISCCP D2产品总云量每年减少速度为0.015%, 小于地面观测的总云量每年减少速度 (0.063%); 东北地区总云量缓慢增多, 而青藏高原、西北地区总云量减少。利用卫星和地面资料均以累积距平法检测出1984—2001年总云量减少、2002-2006年总云量显著增加。     

Evaluation of tropical cloud regimes in observations and a general circulation model

Tropical cloud regimes defined by cluster analysis of International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) cloud top pressure (CTP)–optical thickness distributions and ISCCP-like Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) general circulation model (GCM) output are analyzed in this study. The observations are evaluated against radar–lidar cloud-top profiles from the atmospheric radiation measurement (ARM) Program active remote sensing of cloud layers (ARSCL) product at two tropical locations and by placing them in the dynamical context of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). ARSCL highest cloud-top profiles indicate that differences among some of the six ISCCP regimes may not be as prominent as suggested by ISCCP at the ARM tropical sites. An experimental adjustment of the ISCCP CTPs to produce cloud-top height profiles consistent with ARSCL eliminates the independence between those regimes. Despite these ambiguities, the ISCCP regime evolution over different phases of the MJO is consistent with existing MJO mechanisms, but with a greater mix of cloud types in each phase than is usually envisioned. The GISS Model E GCM produces two disturbed and two suppressed regimes when vertical convective condensate transport is included in the model’s cumulus parameterization. The primary model deficiencies are the absence of an isolated cirrus regime, a lack of mid-level cloud relative to ARSCL, and a tendency for occurrences of specific parameterized processes such as deep and shallow convection and stratiform low cloud formation to not be associated preferentially with any single cloud regime.     

南海及周边地区云量分布及低云量与南海海温的关系

利用国际卫星云气候计划提供的月平均云气候资料集,分析了南海及周边地区云量的分布特征,并进一步研究了低云量与南海海温的关系。结果表明:(1)南海及周边地区总云量分布存在显著的季节性差异特征。(2)低云主要分布在南海海区,中云为华南地区,而高云则主要位于靠近赤道区域。(3)低云受海表温度影响较大,而中高云则主要与强对流相对应。低云主要分布于南海海表冷水中心南侧的暖水区内的温度梯度区,其高值区分布与海表温度梯度分布基本一致,海表温度梯度的大小与高值中心的低云量成正比。(4)低云量高值中心位置与水平海温梯度区两侧基本一致,高温暖水受西边界强迫上升在海表层辐合,有利于低云的生成。     

Cloud cover over the Tibetan Plateau and eastern China: a comparison of ERA5 and ERA-Interim with satellite observations

This study examines the progress made by reanalyses and satellite products in the estimation of cloud cover over China: the ECMWF reanalyses ERA5 and ERA-Interim, geostationary satellite observation Himawari-8 (H8) and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project H-series (ISCCP) product. There is great similarity in spatial patterns of cloud cover in reanalyses and satellite observations, especially between ERA5 and H8. Distinct characteristics of the seasonal evolution of cloud cover are shown over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the southeast (SE) and northeast (NE) of China. Differences in magnitudes of cloud cover exist. Overestimations are about 10% for reanalyses and about 20% for ISCCP in compared with certain cloud cover in H8. When probable cloud (about 10%) in H8 is included in the estimation, biases reduce the most in ERA5. The cloud hit rate (CHR) and false alarm rate (FAR) in against H8 and ISCCP reveal that simulated clouds in ERA5 have been improved especially over eastern China, but with limited improvement over TP in compared with ERA-Interim. Diurnal variations of cloud cover are characterized by increases during daytime over those three regions. Amplifications of diurnal variation vary over different regions and months. Satellite observations and ERA5 indicate distinguished diurnal cycle of cloud cover over TP, while further investigation based on ERA5 reveals coherent diurnal cycle in meteorological environment. Long-term changes of cloud cover highlight decreasing trends over TP and particular during March in past decades based on ISCCP and ERA5, which require further investigation in future.     

中国大陆卫星反演云参数的评估

该文选取１９８３年７月和１９８４年１月份代表夏季和冬季，利用中国地面气象月报的云量资料以及多年平均的地面观测云气修资料，与中国大陆地区ＩＳＣＣＰ卫星反演的去量和云状资料进行了对比分析。参照大气环流和云天气气候特征，从卫星得到的从云状是比较合理的，但干旱沙漠地区的高云量的估计不足，低云估计偏多。     

Examinations of cloud variability and future change in the coupled model intercomparison project phase 3 simulations

Low-level cloud variability is critical to the radiation balance of Earth due to its wide spatial coverage. Using the adjusted International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) observations of Clement et al. (2009), and the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 3 (CMIP3) model simulations, this study examines the observed and the simulated low-cloud variations and their relationships with large-scale environmental variables. From the observational analysis, significant correlations are found between low clouds and those of sea surface temperature (SST), lower tropospheric stability (LTS), and sea level pressure (SLP) over tropical marine areas of low cloud prevailing regions during most of the year. Increase of SST coincides with the reduction of LTS and increased vertical motion, which tends to reduce low-level clouds in subtropical oceans. Among the 14 models investigated, CGCM3 and HadGEM1 exhibit more realistic representation of the observed relationship between low-level clouds and large-scale environments. In future climate projection, these two models show a good agreement in the reduction of low-cloud throughout much of the global oceans in response to greenhouse gas forcing, suggesting a positive low-cloud feedback in a climate change context.     

Evaluation of CMIP5 dynamic sea surface height multi-model simulations against satellite observations

We evaluate the representation of dynamic sea surface height (SSH) fields of 33 global coupled models (GCMs) contributed to the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). We use observations from satellite altimetry and basic performance metrics to quantify the ability of the GCMs to replicate observed SSH of the time-mean, seasonal cycle, and inter-annual variability patterns. The time-mean SSH representation has markedly improved from CMIP3 to CMIP5, both in terms of overall reduction in root-mean square differences, and in terms of reduced GCM ensemble spread. Biases of the time-mean SSH field in the Indian and Pacific Ocean equatorial regions are consistent with biases in the zonal surface wind stress fields identified with independent measurements. In the Southern Ocean, the latitude of the maximum meridional gradient of the zonal mean SSH CMIP5 models is shifted equatorward, consistent with the GCMs’ spatial biases in the maximum of the zonal mean westerly surface wind stress fields. However, while the Southern Ocean SSH gradients correlate well with the maximum Antarctic circumpolar current transports, there is no significant correlation with the maximum zonal mean wind stress amplitudes, consistent with recent findings that the eddy parameterisations in GCMs dominate over wind stress amplitudes in this region. There is considerable spread across the CMIP5 ensemble for the seasonal and interannual SSH variability patterns. Because of the short observational period, the interannual variability patterns depend on the time-period over which they are derived, while no such dependency is found for the time-mean patterns. The model performance metrics for SSH presented here provide insight into GCM shortcoming due to inadequate model physics or processes. While the diagnostics of CMIP5 GCM performance relative to observations reveal that some models are clearly better than others, model performance is sensitive to the spatio-temporal scales chosen.     

高分辨率MRI模式对青藏高原夏季降水及水汽输送通量的模拟

本文使用MRI模式在不同分辨率下(180 km、120 km、60 km、20 km)的AMIP试验结果, 分析了该模式对青藏高原夏季降水及水汽输送通量的模拟, 并考察模式分辨率的影响。结果表明:MRI模式能够较为合理地模拟出青藏高原夏季气候平均的降水空间分布, 但对气候平均水汽输送通量以及降水年际变化的模拟却存在较大的误差。随着分辨率的提高, 该模式对青藏高原气候平均降水的模拟有明显改进, 包括降水年循环以及夏季降水的空间分布等。分辨率为180 km、120 km、60 km、20 km的MRI模式模拟的青藏高原7月平均降水绝对误差分别为2.2 mm/d、1.2 mm/d、0.7 mm/d、0.2 mm/d。另外, 高分辨率模式模拟的青藏高原夏季水汽输送通量的年际变化也更接近观测。当分辨率达到20 km时, MRI模式模拟的西风水汽输送指数与观测的相关系数达到0.43, 通过了0.1显著性水平的显著性检验。但MRI模式对青藏高原夏季降水的年际变化以及气候平均水汽输送通量的模拟技巧并不随分辨率的增加有明显提高。低分辨率模式中模拟降水量偏大、印度季风槽偏强的现象在高分辨率模式中仍然存在。     

Climatic features of cloud water distribution and cycle over China

Analyses of cloud water path(CWP)data over China available from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project(ISCCP)are performed for the period 1984-2004.Combined with GPCP precipitation data,cloud water cycle index(CWCI)is also calculated.The climatic distributions of CWP are found to be dependent on large-scale circulation,topographical features,water vapor transport and similar distribution features which are found in CWCI except in the Sichuan Basin.Influenced by the Asia monsoon,CWP over China exhibits very large seasonal variations in different regions.The seasonal cycles of CWCI in different regions are consistent and the largest CWCI occurs in July.The long-term trends of CWP and CWCI are investigated,too.Increasing trends of CWP are found during the period with the largest increase found in winter.The decreasing trends of CWCI dominate most regions of China.The differences in long-term trends between CWP and CWCI suggest that CWP only can influence the variation of CWCI to a certain extent and that other factors need to be involved in cloud water cycle researches.This phenomenon reveals the complexity of the hydrological cycle related to cloud water.     

Preliminary Evaluation of Cloud Fraction Simulations by GAMIL2 Using COSP

The Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparisons Project (CFMIP) Observation Simulator Package (COSP) is adopted in the Grid-point Atmospheric Model of IAP LASG (GAMIL2) during CFMIP at Phase II to evaluate the model cloud fractions in a consistent way with satellite observations. The cloud simulation results embedded in the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) control experiment are presented using three satellite simulators: International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) lidar onboard the Cloud- Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO). Overall, GAMIL2 can produce horizontal distributions of the low cloud fraction that are similar to the satellite observations, and its similarities to the observations on different levels are shown in Taylor diagrams. The discrepancies among satellite observations are also shown, which should be considered during evaluation.     

中国及其周边地区多种水凝物资料的气候态特征比较

对云的水凝物含量进行研究有利于认识云的辐射性质和强迫效应,以及改善模式的预报性能。利用目前几种较为常用的卫星观测资料（ISCCP、MODIS和CloudSat）和再分析资料（CFSR和ERA-Interim）,对中国及其周边地区的多种水凝物变量,包括积分的云水路径、液水路径和冰水路径,以及分层的液态水含量和冰水含量的气候态水平及垂直分布特征进行了比较研究。结果表明,在总的水凝物含量方面,无论是描述整个中国及其周边地区的水平分布特征和主要变化模态,还是不同海陆区域的月变化特点,MODIS、ERA和CFSR三种资料都显示出较高的一致性,而ISCCP的绝对数值和变化幅度与它们均存在一定差异。在液态水含量方面,无论是水平还是垂直分布,ERA-Interim都有最高的数值,作为观测数据的MODIS和ISCCP则显著偏低。对于冰水含量,不同资料间无论是水平和垂直分布形式还是具体数值都存在明显差异。通过分析不同水凝物资料间气候态分布的差异性特征,有利于认识目前常用的几种水凝物资料的“不确定性”程度,从而更好地估计云的辐射效应,以及理解其在气候变化中所扮演的角色。      

Slow and Intraseasonal Modes of the Boreal Winter Atmospheric Circulation Simulated by CMIP5 Models

Abstract The authors evaluate the performance of models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5（CMIP5）in simulating the historical（1951-2000）modes of interannual variability in the seasonal mean Northern Hemisphere（NH）500 hPa geopotential height during winter（December-January-February,DJF）.The analysis is done by using a variance decomposition method,which is suitable for studying patterns of interannual variability arising from intraseasonal variability and slow variability（time scales of a season or longer）.Overall,compared with reanalysis data,the spatial structure and variance of the leading modes in the intraseasonal component are generally well reproduced by the CMIP5 models,with few clear differences between the models.However,there are systematic discrepancies among the models in their reproduction of the leading modes in the slow component.These modes include the dominant slow patterns,which can be seen as features of the Pacific-North American pattern,the North Atlantic Oscillation/Arctic Oscillation,and the Western Pacific pattern.An overall score is calculated to quantify how well models reproduce the three leading slow modes of variability.Ten models that reproduce the slow modes of variability relatively well are identified.