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Simulations of the Madden–Julian oscillation in four pairs of coupled and uncoupled global models

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Abstract

The status of the numerical reproduction of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) by current global models was assessed through diagnoses of four pairs of coupled and uncoupled simulations. Slow eastward propagation of the MJO, especially in low-level zonal wind, is realistic in all these simulations. However, the simulated MJO suffers from several common problems. The MJO signal in precipitation is generally too weak and often eroded by an unrealistic split of an equatorial maximum of precipitation into a double ITCZ structure over the western Pacific. The MJO signal in low-level zonal wind, on the other hand, is sometimes too strong over the eastern Pacific but too weak over the Indian Ocean. The observed phase relationship between precipitation and low-level zonal wind associated with the MJO in the western Pacific and their coherence in general are not reproduced by the models. The seasonal migration in latitude of MJO activity is missing in most simulations. Air–sea coupling generally strengthens the simulated eastward propagating signal, but its effects on the phase relationship and coherence between precipitation and low-level zonal wind, and on their geographic distributions, seasonal cycles, and interannual variability are inconsistent among the simulations. Such inconsistency cautions generalization of results from MJO simulations using a single model. In comparison to observations, biases in the simulated MJO appear to be related to biases in the background state of mean precipitation, low-level zonal wind, and boundary-layer moisture convergence. This study concludes that, while the realistic simulations of the eastward propagation of the MJO are encouraging, reproducing other fundamental features of the MJO by current global models remains an unmet challenge.

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Notes

  1. HSVD modes representing zonally propagating signals are outstanding in pairs.

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Acknowledgements

William Forsee assisted with the graphics. This study was supported under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Climate Change Prediction Program by University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-Eng-48 (KRS), and by the Climate Dynamics Program of the National Science Foundation under Grants ATM9912297 (CZ) and ATM-0327460 (EDM).

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  1. Min Dong

    Present address: Climate Center, China Meteorology Administration, Beijing, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RSMAS, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Chidong Zhang & Min Dong

  2. National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Bologna, Italy

    Silvio Gualdi

  3. BMRC, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Harry H. Hendon

  4. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Eric D. Maloney

  5. Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Andrew Marshall

  6. PCMDI, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA

    Kenneth R. Sperber

  7. CPC/NCEP/NOAA, Camp Springs, MD, USA

    Wanqiu Wang

  8. 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, MPO, Miami, FL, 33149-1098, USA

    Chidong Zhang

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Zhang, C., Dong, M., Gualdi, S. et al. Simulations of the Madden–Julian oscillation in four pairs of coupled and uncoupled global models. Clim Dyn 27, 573–592 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-006-0148-2

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