AMIP I/AMIP II Differences: Model PNNL CCM2 (T42 L18) 1997


AMIP II Model Designation

PNNL CCM2 (T42 L18) 1997

Most Similar AMIP I Model

NCAR CCM2 (T42 L18) 1992

AMIP I/AMIP II Model Differences

Equations of State

The AMIP II model uses the state variables of the AMIP I model plus additional prognostic variables required for the prognostic cloud formation scheme. The latter includetotal moisture mixing ratio, ice mixing ratio and number concentration, and condensation-conserved temperature.

Radiation

The cloud-radiative interactions of the AMIP II model are different from those of the AMIP I model. Convective clouds are treated as radiatively transparent. The shortwave optical properties of large-scale clouds for the delta-Eddington approximation (optical depth, single scattering albedo, and asymmetry factor) are  parameterized in terms of the cloud liquid water and ice water paths, the droplet effective radius, and the crystal effective size. The droplet effective radius is parameterized in terms of the cloud liquid water content (diagnosed from the prognostic total moisture mixing ratio) and a prescribed droplet number concentration. The ice crystal effective size is parameterized in terms of the prognostic ice water content and ice crystal number concentration. Longwave broad-band emissivity of large-scale cloud is a negative exponential function of liquid water path, with the cloud ice absorption coefficient specified as 1x10-4 m2Kg-1. Large-scale cloud fills the entire grid square (i.e., cloud fraction is 1, with full vertical overlap). Cf. Ghan et al. (1997)[39] for further details.

Convection

In order to better simulate cloud radiative forcing, the characteristic convective adjustment time scale is increased to 5400 seconds in the AMIP II model from its value of 3600 seconds in the AMIP I model.
 

Cloud Formation

Precipitation

The AMIP II model treats grid-scale precipitation differently from the AMIP I model.  Grid-scale precipitation is diagnostically determined from conservation equations (neglecting tendency and advection terms) for rain and snow that apply to the prognostic large-scale cloud  formation scheme. Subsequent evaporation of falling precipitation is not simulated.

Snow Cover

The AMIP II model  treats snow prognostically, as opposed to its climatological prescription in the AMIP I model. Continental snow cover is treated as in the BATS1e land surface scheme (cf. Dickinson at al. (1993)[40]).  See also Land Surface Processes.

Surface Characteristics

In the AMIP II model, continental surface characteristics (albedos and roughnesses) are specified as in the BATS1e land surface scheme for 18 distinguished vegetation types (cf. Dickinson et al. (1993)[40])), as opposed to the AMIP I model's 10 surface types.  (The surface types of both models are derived from the Matthews (1983)[30] 1 x 1-degree, 32-type vegetation data set, however .)  Dry and saturated albedos in two wavelength regions have been associated with the eight soil color classes.  Otherwise, both models use the same formulations of surface roughnesses and direct/diffuse-beam albedos on ocean and ice surfaces.

Land Surface Processes

The AMIP II model treats land surface processes as in the Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer Scheme Version 1e (BATS1e) of Dickinson et al. (1993)[40]), a more complex approach than in the AMIP I model:
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Last update December 6, 2000. For questions or comments, contact Tom Phillips (phillips@pcmdi.llnl.gov) or the AMIP Representative(s).
 

LLNL Disclaimers

UCRL-MI-135872