Sea ice is an important and complex component of the Earth’s system, acting as both an indicator and an amplifier of climate change. Here, we investigated the ability of the Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM-OA2.5) ...Sea ice is an important and complex component of the Earth’s system, acting as both an indicator and an amplifier of climate change. Here, we investigated the ability of the Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM-OA2.5) and four state-of-the-art climate models participating in the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Version 5 (CMIP5) to represent the Antarctic Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) seasonal cycle. We validated the sea ice model’s performance using satellite data from 1980 to 2005 and calculated the skill and RMSE of each model. BESM-OA2.5 results for melt-freeze transitions in the Southern Ocean are consistent with CMIP5 models and satellite data. In February, when the sea ice reaches its annual minimum, the BESM-OA2.5 has the best fit among the models. However, in September, when the Antarctic sea ice reaches its annual maximum, the SIC simulated by BESM-OA2.5 indicated the largest area covered by ice compared to satellite, particularly on the Polar Front. Similar results were found in the CMIP5 models evaluated here. We suggest that the large bias simulated in the Polar Front is related to the inability of the sea ice model to represent the complex ocean-atmosphere-sea ice interactions. The subject is considered a hot topic in climate change studies and lacks conclusive answers.展开更多
Important international reports and a significant number of scientific publications have reported on the abrupt decline of Arctic sea ice and its impact on the Global Climate System. In this paper, we evaluated the ab...Important international reports and a significant number of scientific publications have reported on the abrupt decline of Arctic sea ice and its impact on the Global Climate System. In this paper, we evaluated the ability of the newly implemented Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM-OA) to represent Arctic sea ice and sensitivity to CO<sub>2</sub> forcing, using decadal simulations (1980-2012) and future scenarios (2006-2100). We validated our results with satellite observations and compared them to Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 5 (CMIP5) for the same numerical experiment. BESM results for the seasonal cycle are consistent with CMIP5 models and observations. However, almost all models tend to overestimate sea ice extent in March compared to observations. The correct evaluation of minimum record of sea ice, in terms of time, spatial and area remains a limitation in Coupled Global Climate Models. Looking to spatial patterns, we found a systematic model error in September sea ice cover between the Beaufort Sea and East Siberia for most models. Future scenarios show a decrease in sea ice extent in response to an increase in radiative forcing for all models. From the year 2045 onwards, all models show a dramatic shrinking in sea ice and ice free conditions at the end of the melting season. The projected future sea ice loss is explained by the combined effects of the amplified warming in northern hemisphere high latitudes and feedbacks processes.展开更多
Here we investigate the ocean-atmosphere coupling and the contribution of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations in: 1) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region, 2) Southwest Atlantic Ocean and 3) Southern Brazil...Here we investigate the ocean-atmosphere coupling and the contribution of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations in: 1) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region, 2) Southwest Atlantic Ocean and 3) Southern Brazil. Numerical simulations of the ECHAM5/MPI-OM coupled ocean-atmosphere model were used to analyze the changes in the seasonal trajectory of the extratropical cyclones, in terms of intensification of physical mechanisms and implications for future scenarios. The numerical experiment for the future scenario considered an atmospheric CO2 concentration of approximately 770 ppm, which represents an increment of more than 350 ppm over the current values recorded by the Mauna Loa reference station. For this scenario, the results indicated a Storm Tracks (ST) displacement of 5° latitude toward south and changes of the meridional transport of sensible heat, close to 50°S. The increase in SST induces ST intensification and consequently an increase in the occurrence of extratropical cyclones. Overall, in the BMC region, we found a change in the pattern of cyclogenetic activity occurrence, with less frequent, but more intense events. On the Southern Brazilian region, the results of this study indicate increases in rainfall during summer months, whereas, a decrease in frequency and an increase in intensity were found for wintertime. We suggest that these changes could impact the climate dynamic of the Brazilian South coast, with a magnitude yet unknown.展开更多
文摘Sea ice is an important and complex component of the Earth’s system, acting as both an indicator and an amplifier of climate change. Here, we investigated the ability of the Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM-OA2.5) and four state-of-the-art climate models participating in the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Version 5 (CMIP5) to represent the Antarctic Sea Ice Concentration (SIC) seasonal cycle. We validated the sea ice model’s performance using satellite data from 1980 to 2005 and calculated the skill and RMSE of each model. BESM-OA2.5 results for melt-freeze transitions in the Southern Ocean are consistent with CMIP5 models and satellite data. In February, when the sea ice reaches its annual minimum, the BESM-OA2.5 has the best fit among the models. However, in September, when the Antarctic sea ice reaches its annual maximum, the SIC simulated by BESM-OA2.5 indicated the largest area covered by ice compared to satellite, particularly on the Polar Front. Similar results were found in the CMIP5 models evaluated here. We suggest that the large bias simulated in the Polar Front is related to the inability of the sea ice model to represent the complex ocean-atmosphere-sea ice interactions. The subject is considered a hot topic in climate change studies and lacks conclusive answers.
文摘Important international reports and a significant number of scientific publications have reported on the abrupt decline of Arctic sea ice and its impact on the Global Climate System. In this paper, we evaluated the ability of the newly implemented Brazilian Earth System Model (BESM-OA) to represent Arctic sea ice and sensitivity to CO<sub>2</sub> forcing, using decadal simulations (1980-2012) and future scenarios (2006-2100). We validated our results with satellite observations and compared them to Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 5 (CMIP5) for the same numerical experiment. BESM results for the seasonal cycle are consistent with CMIP5 models and observations. However, almost all models tend to overestimate sea ice extent in March compared to observations. The correct evaluation of minimum record of sea ice, in terms of time, spatial and area remains a limitation in Coupled Global Climate Models. Looking to spatial patterns, we found a systematic model error in September sea ice cover between the Beaufort Sea and East Siberia for most models. Future scenarios show a decrease in sea ice extent in response to an increase in radiative forcing for all models. From the year 2045 onwards, all models show a dramatic shrinking in sea ice and ice free conditions at the end of the melting season. The projected future sea ice loss is explained by the combined effects of the amplified warming in northern hemisphere high latitudes and feedbacks processes.
文摘Here we investigate the ocean-atmosphere coupling and the contribution of the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations in: 1) Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) region, 2) Southwest Atlantic Ocean and 3) Southern Brazil. Numerical simulations of the ECHAM5/MPI-OM coupled ocean-atmosphere model were used to analyze the changes in the seasonal trajectory of the extratropical cyclones, in terms of intensification of physical mechanisms and implications for future scenarios. The numerical experiment for the future scenario considered an atmospheric CO2 concentration of approximately 770 ppm, which represents an increment of more than 350 ppm over the current values recorded by the Mauna Loa reference station. For this scenario, the results indicated a Storm Tracks (ST) displacement of 5° latitude toward south and changes of the meridional transport of sensible heat, close to 50°S. The increase in SST induces ST intensification and consequently an increase in the occurrence of extratropical cyclones. Overall, in the BMC region, we found a change in the pattern of cyclogenetic activity occurrence, with less frequent, but more intense events. On the Southern Brazilian region, the results of this study indicate increases in rainfall during summer months, whereas, a decrease in frequency and an increase in intensity were found for wintertime. We suggest that these changes could impact the climate dynamic of the Brazilian South coast, with a magnitude yet unknown.
