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Application of MJO dynamics-oriented diagnostics to CMIP5 models

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Abstract

Realistic simulation of Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) propagation in coupled global climate models remains a common problem. In this study, the ability of 20 coupled models from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) in simulating MJO is examined using dynamics-oriented diagnostics. The diagnostics focus on dynamic and thermodynamic structures of MJOs on three dimensions, which help to identify the shortcomings of models and evaluate whether they could reproduce MJO for the right reason. According to the simulation performance of the eastward propagation of MJO, the “good” models and “poor” models are detected. The dynamics-oriented diagnostics are further applied to the good models, poor models, and all models to establish a linkage between MJO simulation skill and their dynamic/thermodynamic structures. Results show that the simulations of good models have the following common features: (1) a horizontal zonal structural asymmetry in low-level zonal wind, upper-level diabatic heating and divergence; (2) a preceding eastward propagation of boundary layer moisture convergence; and (3) a rearward-tilted vertical structure of diabatic heating, equivalent potential temperature and available potential energy generation. The poor models that fail to capture these three-dimensional structures do not reproduce the eastward propagation of MJO. More than half of these 20 CMIP5 models still have difficulties in simulating these dynamic/thermodynamic structures.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2018YFC1505905) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41805048, Grant No. 41605035). ZW Zhu is supported by the Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST (Grant no. 2018QNRC001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Meteorological Disaster, Ministry of Education (KLME)/Joint International Research Laboratory of Climate and Environment Change (ILCEC)/Collaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters (CIC-FEMD), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, 219 Ningliu Road, Meteorology Bldg., Nanjing, 210044, China

    Juan Li, Ying Yang & Zhiwei Zhu

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  1. Juan Li
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  2. Ying Yang
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  3. Zhiwei Zhu
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Correspondence to Zhiwei Zhu.

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Li, J., Yang, Y. & Zhu, Z. Application of MJO dynamics-oriented diagnostics to CMIP5 models. Theor Appl Climatol 141, 673–684 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03185-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03185-5

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