Open AccessHistorical Simulations With HadGEM3‐GC3.1 for CMIP6
Author(s) -
Andrews Martin B.,
Ridley Jeff K.,
Wood Richard A.,
Andrews Timothy,
Blockley Edward W.,
Booth Ben,
Burke Eleanor,
Dittus Andrea J.,
Florek Piotr,
Gray Lesley J.,
Haddad Stephen,
Hardiman Steven C.,
Hermanson Leon,
Hodson Dan,
Hogan Emma,
Jones Gareth S.,
Knight Jeff R.,
Kuhlbrodt Till,
Misios Stergios,
Mizielinski Matthew S.,
Ringer Mark A.,
Robson Jon,
Sutton Rowan T.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of advances in modeling earth systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.03
H-Index - 58
ISSN - 1942-2466
DOI - 10.1029/2019ms001995
Subject(s) - climatology , environmental science , radiative forcing , climate model , sea surface temperature , atmospheric sciences , precipitation , coupled model intercomparison project , forcing (mathematics) , snow , climate change , geology , oceanography , meteorology , geography , geomorphology
We describe and evaluate historical simulations which use the third Hadley Centre Global Environment Model in the Global Coupled configuration 3.1 (HadGEM3‐GC3.1) and which form part of the UK's contribution to the sixth Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, CMIP6. These simulations, run at two resolutions, respond to historically evolving forcings such as greenhouse gases, aerosols, solar irradiance, volcanic aerosols, land use, and ozone concentrations. We assess the response of the simulations to these historical forcings and compare against the observational record. This includes the evolution of global mean surface temperature, ocean heat content, sea ice extent, ice sheet mass balance, permafrost extent, snow cover, North Atlantic sea surface temperature and circulation, and decadal precipitation. We find that the simulated time evolution of global mean surface temperature broadly follows the observed record but with important quantitative differences which we find are most likely attributable to strong effective radiative forcing from anthropogenic aerosols and a weak pattern of sea surface temperature response in the low to middle latitudes to volcanic eruptions. We also find evidence that anthropogenic aerosol forcings play a role in driving the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which are key features of the North Atlantic ocean. Overall, the model historical simulations show many features in common with the observed record over the period 1850–2014 and so provide a basis for future in‐depth study of recent climate change.