Journal Article

GISS‐E2.1: Configurations and Climatology

Kelley, Maxwell, Cook, Ben I, Sun, Shan, Tselioudis, George, Bauer, Mike, Miller, Ron L, Faluvegi, Greg, Orbe, Clara, Mezuman, Keren, Shindell, Drew T., Elsaesser, Gregory S, McDermid, Sonali, Schmidt, Gavin A, Clune, Thomas L, Puma, Michael J, LeGrande, Allegra N, Weng, Ensheng, Bleck, Rainer, Romanou, Anastasia, Marshall, John, García‐Pando, Carlos Pérez, Ruedy, Reto, Canuto, Vittorio, Matthews, Elaine E., Murray, Lee T., Lo, Kwok-wai, Rind, David, Perlwitz, Jan P, Tausnev, Nick, Lacis, Andrew A, Oinas, Valdar, Nazarenko, Larissa, Cesana, Gregory, Wu, Jingbo, Aleinov, Igor, Bauer, Susanne E, Russell, Gary L, Kiang, Nancy Y, Leboissetier, Anthony, Cheng, Ye, Genio, Anthony D. Del, Kim, Daehyun, Cruz, Carlos A, Tsigaridis, Kostas, Yao, Mao-Sung, Ackerman, Andrew S

2020

Overview

This paper describes the GISS‐E2.1 contribution to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 6 (CMIP6). This model version differs from the predecessor model (GISS‐E2) chiefly due to parameterization improvements to the atmospheric and ocean model components, while keeping atmospheric resolution the same. Model skill when compared to modern era climatologies is significantly higher than in previous versions. Additionally, updates in forcings have a material impact on the results. In particular, there have been specific improvements in representations of modes of variability (such as the Madden‐Julian Oscillation and other modes in the Pacific) and significant improvements in the simulation of the climate of the Southern Oceans, including sea ice. The effective climate sensitivity to 2xCO2 is slightly higher than previously at 2.7‐‐3.1°C (depending on version), and is a result of lower CO2 radiative forcing and stronger positive feedbacks.

• Publisher: Wiley Open Access / American Geophysical Union,John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Subject: Atmospheric Composition and Structure / Atmospheric Processes / Carbon cycle / Carbon dioxide / Climate / Climate and Interannual Variability / Climate change / Climate Change and Variability / Climate sensitivity / Climate Variability / Climatology / CMIP6 / Coupled Models of the Climate System / Decadal Ocean Variability / Earth System Modeling / General Circulation Model / Geodesy and Gravity / Global Change / Global Change from Geodesy / Global Climate Models / Intercomparison / Meteorology And Climatology / NASA GISS / Natural Hazards / Ocean models / Oceanography: General / Oceanography: Physical / Oceans / open climate campaign / Paleoceanography / Parameterization / Physical Modeling / Physics / Radiative forcing / Realism / Sea ice / Simulation / Snow / Stratosphere / Troposphere: Composition and Chemistry