Publication Abstracts

Schwarzwald et al. 2023

Schwarzwald, K., L. Goddard, R. Seager, M. Ting, and K. Marvel, 2023: Understanding CMIP6 biases in the representation of the greater Horn of Africa long and short rains. Clim. Dyn., 61, no. 3-4, 1229-1255, doi:10.1007/s00382-022-06622-5.

The societies of the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) are vulnerable to variability in two distinct rainy seasons, the March-May 'long' rains and the October-December 'short' rains. Recent trends in both rainy seasons, possibly related to patterns of low-frequency variability, have increased interest in future climate projections from General Circulation Models (GCMs). However, previous generations of GCMs historically have poorly simulated the regional hydroclimate. This study conducts a process-based evaluation of simulations of the long and short rains in CMIP6, the latest generation of GCMs. Key biases in CMIP5 remain or are worsened, including long rains that are too short and weak and short rains that are too long and strong. Model biases are driven by a complex set of related oceanic and atmospheric factors, including simulations of the Walker Circulation. Biased wet short rains in models are connected with Indian Ocean zonal sea surface temperature (SST) gradients that are too warm in the west and convection that is too deep. Models connect equatorial African winds with the strength of the short rains, though in observations a robust connection is primarily found in the long rains. Model mean state biases in the timing of the western Indian Ocean SST seasonal cycle are associated with certain rainfall timing biases, though both biases may be due to a common source. Simulations driven by historical SSTs (AMIP runs) often have larger biases than fully coupled runs. A path towards using biases to better understand uncertainty in projections of GHA rainfall is suggested.

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BibTeX Citation

@article{sc01800d,
  author={Schwarzwald, K. and Goddard, L. and Seager, R. and Ting, M. and Marvel, K.},
  title={Understanding CMIP6 biases in the representation of the greater Horn of Africa long and short rains},
  year={2023},
  journal={Climate Dynamics},
  volume={61},
  number={3-4},
  pages={1229--1255},
  doi={10.1007/s00382-022-06622-5},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - JOUR
ID  - sc01800d
AU  - Schwarzwald, K.
AU  - Goddard, L.
AU  - Seager, R.
AU  - Ting, M.
AU  - Marvel, K.
PY  - 2023
TI  - Understanding CMIP6 biases in the representation of the greater Horn of Africa long and short rains
JA  - Clim. Dyn.
JO  - Climate Dynamics
VL  - 61
IS  - 3-4
SP  - 1229
EP  - 1255
DO  - 10.1007/s00382-022-06622-5
ER  -

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