Moist static energy solves storm track intensity puzzle for Snowball Earth

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany A Shaw ◽  
Robert J Graham
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Storm Track ◽  
Storm Tracks ◽  
Snowball Earth ◽  
Moist Static Energy ◽  
Energy Gradient ◽  
Static Energy

<p>Modern theories of the midlatitude storm tracks connect their intensity to surface baroclinicity (latitudinal surface temperature gradient). However, simulations show storm tracks were weaker during past cold, icy climates relative to the modern climate even though surface baroclinicity was stronger. We revisit this surface baroclinicity-intensity puzzle for Snowball Earth using simulations across the climate model hierarchy. Here we show the Moist Static Energy framework for storm track intensity solves the puzzle for Snowball Earth. It connects the weaker storm track to the increase of surface albedo, decrease of latent heat flux and decrease of latitudinal surface Moist Static Energy gradient. Weaker intensity can be predicted assuming a surface ice albedo and zero latent heat flux (large Bowen ratio) everywhere in Snowball Earth. The weaker storm track is also consistent with weaker Mean Available Potential Energy (weaker upper-tropospheric baroclinicity), however that cannot be predicted. Overall, the exotic Snowball Earth climate reveals storm track intensity follows the surface Moist Static Energy gradient and not surface baroclinicity. Our insights may help resolve the puzzle in other climates such as the Last Glacial Maximum.</p>

The Moist Static Energy Budget of a Composite Tropical Intraseasonal Oscillation in a Climate Model

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric D. Maloney
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Intraseasonal Variability ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Horizontal Advection ◽  
Moisture Advection ◽  
Static Energy

Abstract The intraseasonal moist static energy (MSE) budget is analyzed in a climate model that produces realistic eastward-propagating tropical intraseasonal wind and precipitation variability. Consistent with the recharge–discharge paradigm for tropical intraseasonal variability, a buildup of column-integrated MSE occurs within low-level easterly anomalies in advance of intraseasonal precipitation, and a discharge of MSE occurs during and after precipitation when westerly anomalies occur. The strongest MSE anomalies peak in the lower troposphere and are, primarily, regulated by specific humidity anomalies. The leading terms in the column-integrated intraseasonal MSE budget are horizontal advection and surface latent heat flux, where latent heat flux is dominated by the wind-driven component. Horizontal advection causes recharge (discharge) of MSE within regions of anomalous equatorial lower-tropospheric easterly (westerly) anomalies, with the meridional component of the moisture advection dominating the MSE budget near 850 hPa. Latent heat flux anomalies oppose the MSE tendency due to horizontal advection, making the recharge and discharge of column MSE more gradual than if horizontal advection were acting alone. This relationship has consequences for the time scale of intraseasonal variability in the model. Eddies dominate intraseasonal meridional moisture advection in the model. During periods of low-level intraseasonal easterly anomalies, eddy kinetic energy (EKE) is anomalously low due to a suppression of tropical synoptic-scale disturbances and other variability on time scales shorter than 20 days. Anomalous moistening of the equatorial lower troposphere occurs during intraseasonal easterly periods through suppression of eddy moisture advection between the equator and poleward latitudes. During intraseasonal westerly periods, EKE is enhanced, leading to anomalous drying of the equatorial lower troposphere through meridional advection. Given the importance of meridional moisture advection and wind-induced latent heat flux to the intraseasonal MSE budget, these findings suggest that to simulate realistic intraseasonal variability, climate models must have realistic basic-state distributions of lower-tropospheric zonal wind and specific humidity.

Climate and Vegetation in the Middle East: Interannual Variability and Drought Feedbacks

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (15) ◽  
pp. 3924-3941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin F. Zaitchik ◽  
Jason P. Evans ◽  
Roland A. Geerken ◽  
Ronald B. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Sensible Heat Flux ◽  
Radiation Balance ◽  
Turbulent Heat ◽  
Sensible Heat

Abstract The Euphrates Plain (EP) experiences large interannual variability in vegetation cover, especially in areas of marginal rain-fed agriculture. Vegetation in this region is primarily limited by available soil moisture, as determined by winter precipitation, spring precipitation, and air temperature. Satellite analyses indicate that the springtime normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is negatively correlated with surface albedo, and that interannual variability in albedo in the EP produces an estimated forcing on the radiation balance that peaks at 16.0 W m−2 in May. Simulations with a regional climate model indicate that surface energy fluxes during a drought year (1999) differed substantially from those during a year with normal precipitation (2003). These differences were geographically specific, with the EP exhibiting increased albedo and decreased sensible heat flux while the neighboring Zagros Plateau region showed no albedo effect, a large increase in sensible heat flux, and an offsetting reduction in latent heat flux. In both the EP and the Zagros there was a potential for positive feedbacks on temperature and drought in late spring, though the most likely feedback mechanisms differed between the two regions: in the EP surface brightening leads to cooling and reduced turbulent heat flux, while in the Zagros region reduced latent heat flux leads to warming and a deepening of the planetary boundary layer.

scholarly journals Feedback of Tropical Instability-Wave-Induced Atmospheric Variability onto the Ocean

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 5842-5855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyodae Seo ◽  
Markus Jochum ◽  
Raghu Murtugudde ◽  
Arthur J. Miller ◽  
John O. Roads
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Surface Stress ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Ocean Currents ◽  
Ocean Current ◽  
Instability Wave ◽  
Ekman Pumping ◽  
Equatorial Atlantic

Abstract The effects of atmospheric feedbacks on tropical instability waves (TIWs) in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean are examined using a regional high-resolution coupled climate model. The analysis from a 6-yr hindcast from 1999 to 2004 reveals a negative correlation between TIW-induced wind perturbations and TIW-induced ocean currents, which implies damping of the TIWs. On the other hand, the feedback effect from the modification of Ekman pumping velocity by TIWs is small compared to the contribution to TIW growth by baroclinic instability. Overall, the atmosphere reduces the growth of TIWs by adjusting its wind response to the evolving TIWs. The analysis also shows that including ocean current (mean + TIWs) in the wind stress parameterization reduces the surface stress estimate by 15%–20% over the region of the South Equatorial Current. Moreover, TIW-induced perturbation ocean currents can significantly alter surface stress estimations from scatterometers, especially at TIW frequencies. Finally, the rectification effect from the atmospheric response to TIWs on latent heat flux is small compared to the mean latent heat flux.

scholarly journals The Sensitivity of Latent Heat Flux to Changes in the Radiative Forcing: A Framework for Comparing Models and Observations

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 2345-2356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Winter ◽  
Elfatih A. B. Eltahir
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Transfer Scheme ◽  
Available Energy

Abstract A climate model must include an accurate surface physics scheme in order to examine the interactions between the land and atmosphere. Given an increase in the surface radiative forcing, the sensitivity of latent heat flux to available energy plays an important role in determining the energy budget and has a significant impact on the response of surface temperature. The Penman–Monteith equation is used to construct a theoretical framework for evaluating the climatology of evapotranspiration and the sensitivity of latent heat flux to available energy. Regional Climate Model version 3 coupled to Integrated Biosphere Simulator (RegCM3–IBIS); RegCM3 with its native land surface model, Biosphere–Atmosphere Transfer Scheme 1e (RegCM3–BATS1e); and Flux Network (FLUXNET) micrometeorological tower observations are compared and contrasted using the developed methodology. RegCM3–IBIS and RegCM3–BATS1e simulate the observed sensitivity of latent heat flux to available energy reasonably well during the summer on average; however, there are significant variations in the monthly values. Additional information provided by the physically based Penman–Monteith framework is employed for identifying deficiencies and guiding improvements in models, allowing calibration of both the climatology of evapotranspiration and the sensitivity of latent heat flux to available energy.

scholarly journals Unrealistic Increases in Wind Speed Explain Reduced Eastern Pacific Heat Flux in Reanalyses

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 2981-2993
Author(s):  
Chunlei Liu ◽  
Richard P. Allan
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Wind Speed ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Surface Flux ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Tropical Eastern Pacific ◽  
Flux Variability ◽  
Climate Model Simulations

Abstract Tropical eastern Pacific sea surface temperature plays a pivotal role in mechanisms that determine global mean surface temperature variability. In this study, the surface flux contribution to recent cooling of the tropical eastern Pacific is investigated using data from three atmospheric reanalyses with full assimilation of observations, an observation-based net surface energy flux reconstruction, and 15 atmosphere-only climate model simulations. For ERA-Interim, 78% of the decrease in net surface flux (−0.65 W m−2 yr−1 over 1988–2008) is explained by the latent heat flux variability. Latent heat flux variability differs between datasets, and this is investigated using a bulk formula. It is found that discrepancies in wind speed change explain contrasting latent heat flux trends across datasets. The significant increase in wind speed of 0.26 m s−1 decade−1 over the tropical eastern Pacific in ERA-Interim is not reproduced by satellite or buoy observations or atmosphere-only climate model simulations, casting questions on the reliability of reanalysis-based surface fluxes over the tropical eastern Pacific.

Observed Long-Term Trends of the Atmospheric Circulation and of Dry and Moist Static Energies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Franzke ◽  
Nili Harnik
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Atmospheric Circulation ◽  
Zonal Wind ◽  
Energy Transport ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Specific Humidity ◽  
Storm Tracks ◽  
Moist Static Energy ◽  
Static Energy

<p>The atmospheric circulation response to global warming is an important problem which is theoretically still not well understood. This is a particular problem since climate model simulations provide uncertain, and at times contradictory, projections of future climate. In particular, it is still unclear how a warmer and moister atmosphere will affect the atmospheric circulation and mid-latitude storms. Here we perform a trend analysis of various atmospheric circulation measures and of the budgets of dry and moist static energy transports, which will contribute to our understanding of the role of moisture in circulation changes. Our analysis is based on the JRA-55 reanalysis data covering the period 1958 through 2018 for both winter and summer seasons. We focus our analysis on zonal mean quantities for the full latitudinal circles as well as for the Atlantic and Pacific sectors.</p><p>We find significant trends in zonal wind, eddy kinetic energy, Eady growth rate, diabatic heating rates, and specific humidity. The zonal wind changes appear to be in thermal wind balance. We also find that the increase in specific humidity is intensifying the trend in eddy moist static energy transport when compared with eddy dry static energy transport. Since band-pass filtered eddy moist static energy transports are related to storm tracks this suggests that increasing moisture in the atmosphere is contributing to the intensification and meridional shifts of storm tracks. Furthermore, our results suggest that global warming predominantly enhance heat fluxes and to a lesser extend momentum fluxes.</p>

An analog period method for gap‐filling of latent heat flux measurements

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Emilio B. Hoeltgebaum ◽  
Nelson Luís Dias ◽  
Marcelo Azevedo Costa
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Latent Heat ◽  
Latent Heat Flux ◽  
Gap Filling ◽  
Flux Measurements
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