PCMDI > WCRP CMIP3 Model Output > Diagnostic Subprojects

PI:	Kirsten L. Findell
Institution:	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Additional Investigators:	Tom Delworth
Abstract:
We would like to investigate decadal to centennial scale variability in hydrologic fields in the suite of IPCC model runs. Of particular interest is the response of soil moisture to increases in atmospheric CO2, particularly in mid-latitude summertime continental interiors. GFDL's models show a large-scale response that is driven by direct effects of CO2-induced temperature increases, and is modulated by secondary effects of regional circulatory anomalies. Increases in tropical sea surface temperatures have been shown to explain the majority of these circulation changes. We would like to see if these dynamic factors are at play in the other IPCC models and if their regions of influence are consistent from model to model. Experiments of interest: 2XCO2, 4XCO2, and the corresponding control run Model data required: Monthly time series of soil moisture, runoff, surface fluxes, SST, precipitation fields, wind fields, temperature fields, and geopotential height fields.
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