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Title: A cloud feedback emulator (CFE, version 1.0) for an intermediate complexity model
The dominant source of inter-model differences in comprehensive global climate models (GCMs) are cloud radiative effects on Earth's energy budget. Intermediate complexity models, while able to run more efficiently, often lack cloud feedbacks. Here, we describe and evaluate a method for applying GCM-derived shortwave and longwave cloud feedbacks from 4 × CO2 and Last Glacial Maximum experiments to the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model. The method generally captures the spread in top-of-the-atmosphere radiative feedbacks between the original GCMs, which impacts the magnitude and spatial distribution of surface temperature changes and climate sensitivity. These results suggest that the method is suitable to incorporate multi-model cloud feedback uncertainties in ensemble simulations with a single intermediate complexity model.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1204243
NSF-PAR ID:
10043157
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Geoscientific Model Development
Volume:
10
Issue:
2
ISSN:
1991-9603
Page Range / eLocation ID:
945 to 958
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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