Open AccessCorrelation between outgoing longwave radiation and surface temperature in the Tropical Pacific: A model interpretation
Author(s) -
C. Covey
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/258221
Subject(s) - outgoing longwave radiation , longwave , climatology , environmental science , climate model , general circulation model , tropics , atmospheric sciences , walker circulation , atmosphere (unit) , coupled model intercomparison project , atmospheric model , climate change , radiation , meteorology , geography , sea surface temperature , geology , oceanography , physics , convection , biology , quantum mechanics , fishery
Results from the Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project show that atmospheric general circulation models tend to underestimate the emission of anomalous heat to space during the 1987 El Nino episode in the tropical Pacific. This systematic bias implies that the models are underestimating negative feedbacks on climate that involve longwave radiation in the tropical atmosphere. These results are consistent with analyses of paleo-data that suggest climate models generally overestimate climate sensitivity in the tropics