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ABSTRACT

Randall et al. 1992

Randall, D.A., R.D. Cess, J.P. Blanchet, G.J. Boer, D.A. Dazlich, A.D. Del Genio, M. Deque, V. Dymnikov, V. Galin, S.J. Ghan, A.A. Lacis, H. Le Treut, Z.-X. Li, X.-Z. Liang, B.J. McAvaney, V.P. Meleshko, J.F.B. Mitchell, J.-J. Morcrette, G.L. Potter, L. Rikus, E. Roeckner, J.F. Royer, U. Schlese, D.A. Sheinin, J. Slingo, A.P. Sokolov, K.E. Taylor, W.M. Washington, R.T. Wetherlad, I. Yagai, and M.-H. Zhang, 1992: Intercomparison and interpretation of surface energy fluxes in atmospheric general circulation models. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 3711-3724, doi:10.1029/91JD03120.

We have analyzed responses of the surface energy budgets and hydrologic cycles of 19 atmospheric general circulation models to an imposed, globally uniform sea surface temperature perturbation of 4 K. The responses of the simulated surface energy budgets are extremely diverse and are closely linked to the responses of the simulated hydrologic cycles. The response of the net surface energy flux is not controlled by cloud effects; instead, it is determined primarily by the response of the latent heat flux. The prescribed warming of the ocean leads to major increases in the atmospheric water vapor content and the rates of evaporation and precipitation. The increased water vapor amount drastically increases the downwelling infrared radiation at the Earth's surface, but the amount of the cnage varies dramatically from one model to another.

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