Using atmospheric CO2 data to assess a simplified carbon-climate simulation for the 20th century

• Published in: Tellus. Series B, Chemical and physical meteorology Vol. 58; no. 5; pp. 427 - 437
• Main Authors: Law, Rachel M., Kowalczyk, Eva A., Wang, Ying-Ping
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Taylor & Francis 01.11.2006; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical composition and interactions. Ionic interactions and processes; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Meteorology; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Terrestrial environment; time variations; Carbon dioxide; digital simulation; carbon cycle; Source sink relationship; troposphere; greenhouse gas; Dynamical climatology; feedback; Century 20th; climate modification; Flux density; Air biosphere interaction; algorithm performance; global change; warming; Air pollution; Effect on climate
• ISSN: 0280-6509; 1600-0889
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.2006.00198.x

The CSIRO biosphere model has been coupled to an atmosphere model and a simulation has been performed for the 20th century. Both biosphere and atmosphere are forced with global CO 2 concentration and the atmosphere is also forced with prescribed sea surface temperatures. The simulation follows the C4MIP Phase 1 protocol. We assess the model simulation using atmospheric CO 2 data. Mauna Loa growth rate is well simulated from 1980 but overestimated before that time. The interannual variations in growth rate are reasonably reproduced. Seasonal cycles are underestimated in northern mid-latitudes and are out of phase in the southern hemisphere. The north-south gradient of annual mean CO 2 is substantially overestimated due to a northern hemisphere net biosphere source and a southern tropical sink. Diurnal cycles at three northern hemisphere locations are larger than observed in many months, most likely due to larger respiration than observed.