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Global water cycle agreement in the climate models assessed in the IPCC AR4
Author(s) -
Waliser D.,
Seo K.W.,
Schubert S.,
Njoku E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2007gl030675
Subject(s) - climatology , water cycle , climate model , environmental science , climate change , representation (politics) , general circulation model , econometrics , atmospheric sciences , physics , mathematics , geology , ecology , oceanography , politics , political science , law , biology
This study examines the fidelity of the global water cycle in the climate model simulations assessed in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. The results demonstrate good model agreement in quantities that have had a robust global observational basis and that are physically unambiguous. The worst agreement occurs for quantities that have both poor observational constraints and whose model representations can be physically ambiguous. In addition, components involving water vapor (frozen water) typically exhibit the best (worst) agreement, and fluxes typically exhibit better agreement than reservoirs. These results are discussed in relation to the importance of obtaining accurate model representation of the water cycle and its role in climate change. Recommendations are also given for facilitating the needed model improvements.