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Model biases in the atmosphere-ocean partitioning of poleward heat transport are persistent across three CMIP generations
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  • Aaron Donohoe,
  • Robert Fajber,
  • Tyler Cox,
  • Kyle Armour,
  • David DBattisti,
  • Gerard Roe
Aaron Donohoe
University of Washington

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Robert Fajber
McGill
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Tyler Cox
University of Washington Seattle
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Kyle Armour
University of Washington
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David DBattisti
University of Washington
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Gerard Roe
University of Washington
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Abstract

The observed partitioning of poleward heat transport between atmospheric and oceanic heat transports (AHT and OHT) is compared to that in coupled climate models. Poleward OHT in the models is biased low in both hemispheres, with the largest biases in the Southern Hemisphere extratropics. Poleward AHT is biased high in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the vicinity of the peak AHT near 40$^\circ$N. The significant model biases are persistent across three model generations (CMIP3, CMIP5, CMIP6) and are insensitive to the satellite radiation and atmospheric reanalyses products used to derive observational estimates of AHT and OHT. Model biases in heat transport partitioning are consistent with biases in the spatial structure of energy input to the ocean and atmosphere. Specifically, larger than observed model evaporation in the tropics adds excess energy to the atmosphere that drives enhanced poleward AHT at the expense of weaker OHT
05 Oct 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
17 Oct 2023Published in ESS Open Archive