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A Comparison of the Stratus Clouds in the NCEP CFS03 and NCAR CCSM3

A Comparison of the Stratus Clouds in the NCEP CFS03 and NCAR CCSM3

Ching-Yee Chang

UMD

The stratus clouds over the Southeast oceans can reduce the incoming solar radiation and cool the sea water. Many studies relate the notable models systematic warm biases over the southeastern basins to the deficiency of the simulated stratus clouds. In this study, the model stratus clouds of the NCEP CFS03 and NCAR CCSM3 are compared against those of the ERA40 reanalysis and of the ISCCP. This study indicates that the deficiency of the stratus clouds may be related to the failure in simulating the subtropical temperature inversion. The temperature inversion can cab the boundary layer and help the formation of stratus clouds. The lack of the temperature inversion may result in less cloud condensates and thus reduce the stratus clouds.