Verification of land-atmosphere coupling in forecast models, reanalyses and land surface models using flux site observations.

ABSTRACT: We confront four model systems in three configurations (LSM, LSM+GCM, and reanalysis) with global flux tower observations to validate states, surface fluxes, and coupling indices between land and atmosphere. Models clearly under-represent the feedback of surface fluxes on boundary layer properties (the atmospheric leg of land-atmosphere coupling), and may over-represent the connection between soil moisture and surface fluxes (the terrestrial leg). Models generally under-represent spatial and temporal variability relative to observations, which is at least partially an artifact of the differences in spatial scale between model grid boxes and flux tower footprints. All models bias high in near-surface humidity and downward shortwave radiation, struggle to represent precipitation accurately,

SUBMITTER: Dirmeyer PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5918345 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature