Simplified ISCCP Cloud Regimes for Evaluating Cloudiness in CMIP5 Models

Abstract

We take advantage of the ISCCP simulator implemented in many CMIP5 models, in order to introduce a credible method to compare model cloud output with corresponding ISCCP observations based on the cloud regime (CR) concept. A novel simplified CR derivation method is introduced that exploits the co-variations of three variables, cloud optical thickness, cloud top pressure and cloud fraction (, pc, CF). Following evaluation criteria established in a previous paper of ours, we assess model cloud simulation performance based on how well the simplified CRs are simulated in terms of similarity of centroids, global values and map correlations of relative frequency-of-occurrence (RFO), and long term total clouds amounts (as opposed to average instantaneous cloud fractions). Mirroring prior results, modeled clouds tend to be too thick optically and not as extensive as in observations. Averaging across models does not help in this or other evaluation aspects, except for cloud geographical locations. A good model for one criterion is usually found to be also a good performer for other criteria despite plenty of exceptions for the criterion of centroid similarity. On the other hand, CRs that include convectively generated high-altitude clouds are not as well simulated here compared to the previous study, but other regimes containing low clouds with high CF improve. Models that have previously performed well distinguish themselves again here, but improvements from other models are also found. The simplified cloud evaluation method thus proves to be more forgiving while still good enough to reveal model weaknesses.