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Global aspects of the Los Alamos general circulation model hydrologic cycle
- Source :
- Journal of Geophysical Research. 97(D9 J)
- Publication Year :
- 1992
- Publisher :
- United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 1992.
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Abstract
- The global hydrologic cycle in the Los Alamos general circulation model (GCM) is compared to available global observations. Global observations of the water vapor, water-vapor flux and water-vapor flux divergence are derived from the National Meteorological Center's final analysis for the period 1986-1989. The new precipitation data set of Legates and Willmott (1990) is used for the global precipitation observations. Global evaporation is derived as a residual of the precipitation and water-vapor flux divergence. There are a number of similarities as well as discrepancies between the GCM and observations. The large-scale nondivergent and divergent GCM circulations are remarkably similar to the observed circulations; the large-scale GCM precipitation and evaporation patterns are also qualitatively similar to observations. Discrepancies are mainly quantitative and small-scale in nature: the GCM atmosphere is relatively dry which results in a slightly greater evaporation and precipitation rate than is observed; the GCM South Pacific convergence zone is displaced too far to the northwest.
- Subjects :
- Meteorology And Climatology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01480227
- Volume :
- 97
- Issue :
- D9 J
- Database :
- NASA Technical Reports
- Journal :
- Journal of Geophysical Research
- Notes :
- NOAA-NA-90AACP256, , NAG5-236, , USGS-14-08-0001-G1743, , NOAA-NA-16RC000123-01
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsnas.19920063173
- Document Type :
- Report