edu.ucar.opensky::articles:26459 UCAR/NCAR - Library OpenSky Support PO Box 3000 Boulder CO 80307-3000 opensky@ucar.edu http://opensky.ucar.edu/ homepage pointOfContact 2025-12-24T19:29:09.084907 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7m90dpr https://doi.org/10.22033/ESGF/CMIP6.4492 https Related Dataset #1 E3SM-Project E3SM1.0 model output prepared for CMIP6 CMIP amip https://doi.org/10.24381/CDS.6860A573 https Related Dataset #2 ERA5 monthly averaged data on pressure levels from 1979 to present https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD06COSP_M3_MODIS.062 https Related Dataset #3 MODIS (Aqua/Terra) Cloud Properties Level 3 monthly, 1x1 degree grid https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.7688965 https Related Dataset #4 Supporting data for Assessing clouds using satellite observations through three generations of global atmosphere models https://doi.org/10.7289/V5QZ281S https Related Dataset #5 International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Climate Data Record, H-Series Assessing clouds using satellite observations through three generations of global atmosphere models 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z publication https://n2t.org/ark:/85065/d7m90dpr https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA002918 Medeiros, Brian author Shaw, Jonah author Kay, J. E. author Davis, Isaac author UCAR/NCAR - Library publisher Clouds are parameterized in climate models using quantities on the model grid-scale to approximate the cloud cover and impact on radiation. Because of the complexity of processes involved with clouds, these parameterizations are one of the key challenges in climate modeling. Differences in parameterizations of clouds are among the main contributors to the spread in climate sensitivity across models. In this work, the clouds in three generations of an atmosphere model lineage are evaluated against satellite observations. Satellite simulators are used within the model to provide an appropriate comparison with individual satellite products. In some respects, especially the top-of-atmosphere cloud radiative effect, the models show generational improvements. The most recent generation, represented by two distinct branches of development, exhibits some regional regressions in the cloud representation; in particular the southern ocean shows a positive bias in cloud cover. The two branches of model development show how choices during model development, both structural and parametric, lead to different cloud climatologies. Several evaluation strategies are used to quantify the spatial errors in terms of the large-scale circulation and the cloud structure. The Earth mover's distance is proposed as a useful error metric for the passive satellite data products that provide cloud-top pressure-optical depth histograms. The cloud errors identified here may contribute to the high climate sensitivity in the Community Earth System Model, version 2 and in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, version 1. UCAR/NCAR - Library OpenSky Support PO Box 3000 Boulder CO 80307-3000 opensky@ucar.edu http://opensky.ucar.edu/ homepage pointOfContact PDF Text theme Resource Type 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z publication Copyright 2023 American Geophysical Union (AGU). None eng geoscientificInformation