An evaluation of RegCM3_CRES for regional climate modeling in China

CHEN Feng; and XIE Zhenghui

doi:10.1007/s00376-012-2114-8

Abstract:

A 20-year simulation of regional climate over East Asia by the regional climate model RegCM3_CERES (Regional Climate Model version 3 coupled with the Crop Estimation through Resource and Environment Synthesis) was carried out and compared with observations and the original RegCM3 model to comprehensively evaluate its performance in simulating the regional climate over continental China. The results showed that RegCM3_CERES reproduced the regional climate at a resolution of 60 km over China by using ERA40 data as the boundary conditions, albeit with some limitations. The model captured the basic characteristics of the East Asian circulation, the spatial distribution of mean precipitation and temperature, and the daily characteristics of precipitation and temperature. However, it underestimated both the intensity of the monsoon in the monsoonal area and precipitation in southern China, overestimated precipitation in northern China, and produced a systematic cold temperature bias over most of continental China. Despite these limitations, it was concluded that the RegCM3_CERES model is able to simulate the regional climate over continental China reasonably well.

摘要: A 20-year simulation of regional climate over East Asia by the regional climate model RegCM3_CERES (Regional Climate Model version 3 coupled with the Crop Estimation through Resource and Environment Synthesis) was carried out and compared with observations and the original RegCM3 model to comprehensively evaluate its performance in simulating the regional climate over continental China. The results showed that RegCM3_CERES reproduced the regional climate at a resolution of 60 km over China by using ERA40 data as the boundary conditions, albeit with some limitations. The model captured the basic characteristics of the East Asian circulation, the spatial distribution of mean precipitation and temperature, and the daily characteristics of precipitation and temperature. However, it underestimated both the intensity of the monsoon in the monsoonal area and precipitation in southern China, overestimated precipitation in northern China, and produced a systematic cold temperature bias over most of continental China. Despite these limitations, it was concluded that the RegCM3_CERES model is able to simulate the regional climate over continental China reasonably well.

Get Citation+

Export:

Article Metrics

An evaluation of RegCM3_CRES for regional climate modeling in China

Corresponding author: CHEN Feng;

1. Zhejiang Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Hangzhou 310017;

2. State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029

Manuscript received: 2012-06-11

Manuscript revised: 2012-09-08

Fund Project: The authors would like to thank the Editor, Dr. WEN Zhiping, and the two anonymous reviewers for their comments and suggestions on this paper. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41105062 and 91125016) and the National Basic Research Program (Grant Nos. 2010CB951001 and 2010CB428403).

Abstract: A 20-year simulation of regional climate over East Asia by the regional climate model RegCM3_CERES (Regional Climate Model version 3 coupled with the Crop Estimation through Resource and Environment Synthesis) was carried out and compared with observations and the original RegCM3 model to comprehensively evaluate its performance in simulating the regional climate over continental China. The results showed that RegCM3_CERES reproduced the regional climate at a resolution of 60 km over China by using ERA40 data as the boundary conditions, albeit with some limitations. The model captured the basic characteristics of the East Asian circulation, the spatial distribution of mean precipitation and temperature, and the daily characteristics of precipitation and temperature. However, it underestimated both the intensity of the monsoon in the monsoonal area and precipitation in southern China, overestimated precipitation in northern China, and produced a systematic cold temperature bias over most of continental China. Despite these limitations, it was concluded that the RegCM3_CERES model is able to simulate the regional climate over continental China reasonably well.

Keywords:

regional climate model,
model validation

HTML

Reference

Chen, F., and Z. H. Xie, 2010: Effects of interbasin water transfer on regional climate: A case study of the middle route of south-to-north water transfer project in China. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D11112, doi: 10.1029/2009JD012611.
Chen, F., and Z. H. Xie, 2011: Effects of crop growth and development on land surface fluxes. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 28(4), 927–944, doi: 10.1007/s00376-010-0105-1.
Chen, F., and Z. H. Xie, 2012: Effects of crop growth and development on regional climate: A case study over East Asian monsoon area. Climate Dyn., 38, 2291–2305, doi: 10.1007/s00382-011-1125-y.
Christensen, J. H., and Coauthors, 2007: Regional climate projections. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, S. Solomon et al., Eds., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 847–940.
Dickinson, R. E., A. Henderson-Sellers, and P. J. Kennedy, 1993: Biosphere-atmosphere transfer scheme (bats) version 1e as coupled to the ncar community climate model. Tech. Note 387+STR, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, 72pp.
Donaldson, R. J., R. M. Dyer, and M. J. Krauss, 1975: An objective evaluator of techniques for predicting severe weather events. 9th conf. severs local storms. Amer. Meteor. Soc., Norman, Oklahoma, 321–326.
Feng, J. M., and Z. B. Fu, 2007: Inter-comparison of long-term simulations of temperature and precipitation over China by different regional climate models. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 31(5), 805–814. (in Chinese)
Fritsch, J. M., and C. F. Chappell, 1980: Numerical prediction of convectively driven mesoscale pressure systems. Part I: Convective parameterization. J. Atmos. Sci., 37, 1722–1733, doi: 10.1175/1520-0469(1980)037<1722:NPOCDM>2.0.CO;2.
Gao, X. J., Z .C. Zhao, Y. H. Ding, R. H. Huang, and F. Giorgi, 2001: Climate change due to greenhouse effects in China as simulated by a regional climate model. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 18, 1224–1230.
Gao, X. J., Z. C. Zhao, and F. Giorgi, 2002: Changes of extreme events in regional climate simulations over East Asia. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 19, 927–942.
Gao, X. J., Y. Xu, Z. C. Zhao, J. S. Pal, and F. Giorgi, 2006: On the role of resolution and topography in the simulation of East Asia precipitation. Theor. Appl. Climatol., 86, 173–185.
Gao, X. J., Y. Shi, R. Song, F. Giorgi, Y. Wang, and D. Zhang, 2008: Reduction of future monsoon precipitation over China: Comparison between a high resolution RCM simulation and the driving GCM. Meteor. Atmos. Phys., 100, 73–86, doi: 10.1007/s00703-008-0296-5.
Giorgi, F., 2006: Regional climate modeling: status and perspectives. Journal de Physique IV, 139, 101–118, doi: 10.1051/jp4:2006139008.
Giorgi, F., and L. O. Mearns, 1999: Introduction to special section: Regional climate modeling revisited. J. Geophys. Res., 104(D6), 6335–6352, doi: 10.1029/98JD02072.
[Giorgi et al., 1993a] Giorgi, F., M. R. Marinucci, G. T. Bates, and G. De Canio, 1993a: Development of a second-generation regional climate model (RegCM2). Part II: Convective processes and assimilation of lateral boundary conditions. Mon. Wea. Rev., 121, 2814–2832.
[Giorgi et al., 1993b] Giorgi, F., M. R. Marinucci, and G. T. Bates, 1993b: Development of a second-generation regional climate model (RegCM2). Part I: Boundary-layer and radiative transfer processes. Mon. Wea. Rev., 121, 2794–2813.
Giorgi, F., Y. Huang, K. Nishizawa, and C. B. Fu, 1999: A seasonal cycle simulation over eastern Asia and its sensitivity to radiative transfer and surface processes. J. Geophys. Res., 104, 6403–6423.
Giorgi, F., and Coauthors, 2001: Regional climate information: Evaluation and projections. Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, J. T. Houghton et al., Eds, Cambridge University Press, New York., 583–638,
Giorgi, F., R. Franciscco, and J. S. Pal, 2003: Effects of subgrid-scale topography and land use scheme on the simulation of surface climate and hydrology. Part I: Effects of temperature and water vapor disaggregation. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 4, 317–333, doi: 10.1175/1525-7541(2003)4<317: EOASTA2.0.CO;2.
Grell, G. A., 1993: Prognostic evaluation of assumptions used by cumulus parameterizations. Mon. Wea. Rev., 121, 764–787, doi: 10.1175/1520-0493(1993)121<0764:PEOAUB>2.0.CO;2.
Hirakuchi, H., and F. Giorgi, 1995: Multi-year present day and 2xCO2 simulations of monsoon-dominated climate over eastern Asia and Japan with a regional climate model nested in a general circulation model. J. Geophys. Res., 100, 21105–21126.
Holtslag, A., E. de Bruijn, and H. Pan, 1990: A high-resolution air mass transformation model for short-range weather forecasting. Mon. Wea. Rev., 118, 1561–1575.
Hostetler, S. W., and P. J. Bartlen, 1990: Simulation of lake evaporation with applicaiton to modeling lakelevel variations at Harney-Malheur Lake, Oregon. Water Resour. Res., 26, 2603–2612.
Jones, C. A., and J. R. Kiniry, 1986: CERES-Maize: A Simulation Model of Maize Growth and Development. Texas A&M University Press, 194pp.
Kato, H., K. Nishizawa, H. Hirakuchi, S. Kadokura, N. Oshima, and F. Giorgi, 2001: Performance of RegCM2.5/ NCAR-CSM nested system for the simulation of climate change in East Asia caused by global warming. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan., 79(1), 99–121.
Kiehl, J., J. Hack, G. Bonan, B. Boville, B. Breigleb, D. Williamson, and P. J. Rasch, 1996: Description of the NCAR community climate model (CCM3). NCAR Tech. Note TN-420 STR, 152pp. [Available online at http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cms/ccm3/TN-420/.]
Li, Q. P., and Y. H. Ding, 2005: Multi-year simulations of East Asian winter monsoon by using regional climate model. J. Appl. Meteor. Sci., 16, 30–40.
Liang, X. Z., L. Li, K. E. Kunkel, M. Ting, and J. X. L. Wang, 2004: Regional climate model simulation of U. S. precipitation during 1982–2002. Part 1: Annual cycle. J. Climate, 17, 3510–3528, doi: 10.1175/1520-0442(2004)017<3510:RCMSOU>2.0.CO;2.
Liang, X. Z., J. Pan, J. Zhu, K. E. Kunkel, J. X. L. Wang, and A. Dai, 2006: Regional climate model downscaling of the U.S. summer climate and future change. J. Geophys. Res., 111, D10108, doi: 10.1029/2005JD006685.
Liu, Y. M., Y. H. Ding, and Q. Q. Li, 2005: 10-year hindcasts and assessment analysis of summer rainfall over China from regional climate model. J. Appl. Meteor. Sci., 16, 41–47. (in Chinese)
Liu, Y. Q., F. Giorgi, and W. Washington, 1994: Simulation of summer monsoon climate over East Asia with NCAR regional climate model. Mon. Wea. Rev., 122, 2331–2348.
Pal, J. S., and Coauthors, 2007: Regional climate modeling for the developing world: The ICTP RegCM3 and RegCNET. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 88, 1395–1409.
Reynolds, R. W., N. A. Rayner, T. M. Smith, D. C. Stokes, and W. Wang, 2002: An improved in situ and satellite SST analysis for climate. J. Climate, 15, 1609–1625.
Roads, J., S. C. Chen, and M. Kanamitsu, 2003: U.S. regional climate simulations and seasonal forecasts. J. Geophys. Res., 108, 8606, doi: 10.1029/2002JD002232.
Shi, X. L., Y. H. Ding, and Y. M. Liu, 2001: Simulation experiments of summer rainbelt in China with the regional climate model. Climatic and Environmental Research, 6(2), 249–254. (in Chinese)
Shi, X. L., Z. H. Xie, Y. M. Liu, and H. W. Yang, 2007: Implementation of a surface runoff model with Horton and Dunne mechanisms into the regional climate model RegCM_NCC. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 24(5), 750–764.
Song, S., Z. B. Fu, L. Zhou, and H. J. Wang, 2003: Two-way simulations from RegCM2 coupling with SUCROS in the Huang-Huai-Hai-Plain in east China. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 61(6), 702–710. (in Chinese)
Tsuji, G. Y., G. Hoogenboom, and P. K. Thornton, 1998: Understanding Options for Agricultural Production. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 400pp.
Tsuji, G. Y., G. Uehara, and S. Balas, 1994: DSSAT Version 3. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, 172pp.
Uppala, S., and Coauthors, 2005: The ERA-40 reanalysis. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 131, 2961–3012, doi: 10.1256/qj.04.176.
Wang, S. Y., R. R. Gillies, E. S. Takle, and W. J. Gutowski, 2009: Evaluation of precipitation in the intermountain region as simulated by the NARCCAP regional climate models. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L11704, doi: 10.1029/2009GL037930.
Wang, Y. Q., O. L. Sen, and B. Wang, 2003: A highly resolved regional climate model (IPRC-RegCM) and its simulation of the 1998 severe precipitation event over China. Part I: Model description and verification of simulation. J. Climate, 16(11), 1721–1738.
Xie, P. P., M. Chen, S. Yang, A. Yatagai, T. Hayasaka, Y. Fukushima, and C. M. Liu, 2007: A gauge-based analysis of daily precipitation over East Asia. Journal of Hydrometeor, 8, 607–626.
Xu, Y., X. J. Gao, Y. Shen, C. H. Xu, Y. Shi, and F. Giorgi, 2009: A daily temperature dataset over China and its application in validating a RCM simulation. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 26(4), 763–772.
Yu, E. T., H. J. Wang, and J. Q. Sun, 2010: A quick report on a dynamical downscaling simulation over China using the nested model. Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 3, 325–329.
Yuan, X., and X. Z. Liang, 2011: Improving cold season precipitation prediction by the nested CWRF-CFS system. Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L02706, doi: 10.1029/2010GL046104.
Yuan, X., Z. H. Xie, J. Zheng, X. J. Tian, and Z. L. Yang, 2008: Effects of water table dynamics on regional climate: A case study over East Asian monsoon area. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D21112, doi: 10.1029/2008JD010180.
Zeng, X., M. Zhao, and R. Dickinson, 1998: Intercomparison of bulk aerodynamic algorithms for the computation of sea surface fluxes using TOGA COARE and TAO data. J. Climate, 11, 2628–2644.
Zhang, D. F., X. J. Gao, Z. C. Zhao, J. S. Pal, and F. Giorgi, 2005: Simulation of climate in China by RegCM3 model. Advances in Climate Change Research, 1(3), 119–121. (in Chinese)
Zhang, D. F., L. C. OuYang, X. J. Gao, Z. C. Zhao, J. S. Pal, and F. Giorgi, 2007: Simulation of the atmospheric circulation over East Asia and climate in China by RegCM3. Journal of Tropical Meteorology, 23(5), 348–356. (in Chinese)
Zheng, J., Z. H. Xie, Y. J. Dai, X. Yuan, and X. Q. Bi, 2009: Coupling of the common land model (CoLM) to the regional climate model (RegCM3) and its preliminary validation. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 33(4), 737–750. (in Chinese)

[1]	CAO Lijuan, DONG Wenjie, XU Yinlong, ZHANG Yong, Michael SPARROW, 2007: Validating the Runoff from the PRECIS Model Using a Large-Scale Routing Model, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 24, 855-862. doi: 10.1007/s00376-007-0855-6
[2]	Yang Xiaosong, Lin Zhaohui, Dai Yongjiu, Guo Yufu, 2001: Validation of IAP94 Land Surface Model over the Huaihe River Basin with HUBEX Field Experiment Data, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 18, 139-154. doi: 10.1007/s00376-001-0009-1
[3]	LI Qian, SUN Shufen, DAI Qiudan, 2009: The Numerical Scheme Development of a Simplified Frozen Soil Model, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 26, 940-950. doi: 10.1007/s00376-009-7174-z
[4]	Gao Xuejie, Zhao Zongci, Ding Yihui, Huang Ronghui, Filippo Giorgi, 2001: Climate Change due to Greenhouse Effects in China as Simulated by a Regional Climate Model, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 18, 1224-1230. doi: 10.1007/s00376-001-0036-y
[5]	WEN Xinyu, ZHOU Tianjun, WANG Shaowu, WANG Bin, WAN Hui, LI Jian, 2007: Performance of a Reconfigured Atmospheric General Circulation Model at Low Resolution, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 24, 712-728. doi: 10.1007/s00376-007-0712-7
[6]	SUN Shufen, YAN Jinfeng, XIA Nan, SUN Changhai, 2007: Development of a Model for Water and Heat Exchange Between the Atmosphere and a Water Body, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 24, 927-938. doi: 10.1007/s00376-007-0927-7
[7]	Jing ZOU, Zhenghui XIE, Chesheng ZHAN, Feng CHEN, Peihua QIN, Tong HU, Jinbo XIE, 2019: Coupling of a Regional Climate Model with a Crop Development Model and Evaluation of the Coupled Model across China, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 36, 527-540. doi: 10.1007/s00376-018-8160-0
[8]	SHI Xueli, XIE Zhenghui, LIU Yiming, YANG Hongwei, 2007: Implementation of a Surface Runoff Model with Horton and Dunne Mechanisms into the Regional Climate Model RegCM_NCC, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 24, 750-764. doi: 10.1007/s00376-007-0750-1
[9]	GAO Xuejie, LUO Yong, LIN Wantao, ZHAO Zongci, Filippo GIORGI, 2003: Simulation of Effects of Land Use Change on Climate in China by a Regional Climate Model, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 20, 583-592. doi: 10.1007/BF02915501
[10]	Liu Huaqiang, Qian Yongfu, Zheng Yiqun, 2002: Effects of Nested Area Size upon Regional Climate Model Simulations, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 19, 111-120. doi: 10.1007/s00376-002-0038-4
[11]	DING Yihui, SHI Xueli, LIU Yiming, LIU Yan, LI Qingquan, QIAN Yongfu, MIAO Manqian, ZHAI Guoqing, GAO Kun, 2006: Multi-year Simulations and Experimental Seasonal Predictions for Rainy Seasons in China by Using a Nested Regional Climate Model (RegCM NCC). Part I: Sensitivity Study, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 23, 323-341. doi: 10.1007/s00376-006-0487-2
[12]	Peihua QIN, Zhenghui XIE, Jing ZOU, Shuang LIU, Si CHEN, 2021: Future Precipitation Extremes in China under Climate Change and Their Physical Quantification Based on a Regional Climate Model and CMIP5 Model Simulations, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 38, 460-479. doi: 10.1007/s00376-020-0141-4
[13]	Wei Helin, Wang Wei-Chyung, 1998: A Regional Climate Model Simulation of Summer Monsoon over East Asia: A Case Study of 1991 Flood in Yangtze-Huai River Valley, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 15, 489-509. doi: 10.1007/s00376-998-0027-3
[14]	ZENG Xinmin, LIU Jinbo, MA Zhuguo, SONG Shuai, XI Chaoli, WANG Hanjie, 2010: Study on the Effects of Land Surface Heterogeneitiesin Temperature and Moisture on Annual Scale Regional Climate Simulation, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 27, 154-163. doi: 10.1007/s00376-009-8117-4
[15]	Gao Xuejie, Zhao Zongci, Filippo Giorgi, 2002: Changes of Extreme Events in Regional Climate Simulations over East Asia, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 19, 927-942. doi: 10.1007/s00376-002-0056-2
[16]	XIN Yufei, Annette RINKE, BIAN Lingen, Klaus DETHLOFF, XIAO Cunde, Moritz MIELKE, 2010: Climate and Forecast Mode Simulations for Antarctica: Implications for Temperature and Wind, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 27, 1453-1472. doi: 10.1007/s00376-010-9178-0
[17]	DING Yihui, LIU Yiming, SHI Xueli, LI Qingquan, LI Qiaoping, LIU Yan, 2006: Multi-Year Simulations and Experimental Seasonal Predictions for Rainy Seasons inChina byUsing a Nested Regional ClimateModel (RegCM NCC) Part II: The Experimental Seasonal Prediction, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 23, 487-503. doi: 10.1007/s00376-006-0323-8
[18]	Yu Rucong, Li Wei, Zhang Xuehong, LiuYimin, Yu Yongqiang, Liu Hailong, Zhou Tianjun, 2000: Climatic Features Related to Eastern China Summer Rainfalls in the NCAR CCM3, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 17, 503-518. doi: 10.1007/s00376-000-0014-9
[19]	Xuejie GAO, Ying SHI, Zhenyu HAN, Meili WANG, Jia WU, Dongfeng ZHANG, Ying XU, Filippo GIORGI, 2017: Performance of RegCM4 over Major River Basins in China, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 34, 441-455. doi: 10.1007/s00376-016-6179-7
[20]	Jie WU, Xuejie GAO, Yingmo ZHU, Ying SHI, Filippo GIORGI, 2022: Projection of the Future Changes in Tropical Cyclone Activity Affecting East Asia over the Western North Pacific Based on Multi-RegCM4 Simulations, ADVANCES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, 39, 284-303. doi: 10.1007/s00376-021-0286-9

An evaluation of RegCM3_CRES for regional climate modeling in China

Abstract:

References

Get Citation+

Share Article

Article Metrics

Proportional views

Manuscript History

Online:

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com