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Spherical harmonic analysis of a model-generated climatologyMonthly mean fields of 850 mb temperature (T850), 500 mb geopotential height (G500) and sea level pressure (SLP) were generated in the course of a five-year climate simulation run with a global general circulation model. Both the model-generated climatology and an observed climatology were subjected to spherical harmonic analysis, with separate analyses of the globe and the Northern Hemisphere. Comparison of the dominant harmonics of the two climatologies indicates that more than 95% of the area-weighted spatial variance of G500 and more than 90% of that of T850 are explained by fewer than three components, and that the model adequately simulates these large-scale characteristics. On the other hand, as many as 25 harmonics are needed to explain 95% of the observed variance of SLP, and the model simulation of this field is much less satisfactory. The model climatology is also evaluated in terms of the annual cycles of the dominant harmonics.
Document ID
19810046084
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Christidis, Z. D.
(City Coll. of the City Univ. of New York NY, United States)
Spar, J.
(City College New York, N.Y., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Monthly Weather Review
Volume: 109
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
81A30488
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-33-013-086
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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