Cloud Feedback on SST Variability in the Western Equatorial Pacific in GOALS / LASG Model

The cloud feedback on the SST variability in the western equatorial Pacific in GOALS / LASG model is studied in this paper. Two versions of the model, one with the diagnostic cloud and another with the prescribed cloud, are used. Both versions are integrated for 45 years. It is found that in the prescribed cloud run, the SST variability in the western equatorial Pacific is mainly of interdecadal time scale and the interannual variability is very weak. In the diagnostic cloud run, however, the interdecadal SST variability is depressed much and the interannual SST variability becomes much significant. The mechanism for the feedback is then explored. The variability of sea surface temperature (SST) in the western equatorial Pacific is found to be controlled mainly by the zonal wind anomaly, through the process of upwelling / downwelling in both versions. Then it is found that in the diagnostic cloud case, the negative feedback of the solar short wave (SW) flux acts significantly to balance the effect of upwelling / downwelling in addition to the la?tent flux. In addition, the variability of the SW flux is shown to be closely related to the variability of the middle and high cloud covers. Therefore, the negative feedback of the SW surface flux may have significant contribution to the cloud feedback on the SST variability.