Open AccessComparison of observed and general circulation model derived continental subsurface heat flux in the Northern Hemisphere
Author(s) -
MacDougall Andrew H.,
Beltrami Hugo,
GonzálezRouco J. Fidel,
Stevens M. Bruce,
Bourlon Evelise
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2009jd013170
Subject(s) - borehole , gcm transcription factors , geology , climatology , northern hemisphere , geothermal gradient , flux (metallurgy) , heat flux , environmental science , atmospheric sciences , general circulation model , geophysics , climate change , heat transfer , mechanics , oceanography , materials science , physics , geotechnical engineering , metallurgy
Heat fluxes in the continental subsurface were estimated from general circulation model (GCM) simulations of the climate of the last millennium and compared to those obtained from subsurface geothermal data. Since GCMs have bottom boundary conditions (BBCs) that are less than 10 m deep and thus may be thermodynamically restricted in the continental subsurface, we used an idealized land surface model (LSM) with a very deep BBC to estimate the potential for realistic subsurface heat storage in the absence of bottom boundary constraints. Results indicate that there is good agreement between observed fluxes and GCM simulated fluxes for the 1780–1980 period when the GCM simulated temperatures are coupled to the LSM with deep BBC. These results emphasize the importance of placing a deep BBC in GCM soil components for the proper simulation of the overall continental heat budget. In addition, the agreement between the LSM surface fluxes and the borehole temperature reconstructed fluxes lends additional support to the overall quality of the GCM (ECHO‐G) paleoclimatic simulations.