The Role of the Water Vapor Feedback in the ITCZ Response to Hemispherically Asymmetric Forcings
Abstract
In comprehensive and idealized general circulation models, hemispherically asymmetric forcings lead to shifts in the latitude of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). Prior studies using comprehensive GCMs (with complicated parameterizations of radiation, clouds, and convection) suggest that the water vapor feedback tends to amplify the movement of the ITCZ in response to a given hemispherically asymmetric forcing, but this effect has yet to be elucidated in isolation. This study uses an idealized moist model, coupled to a full radiative transfer code, but without clouds, to examine the role of the water vapor feedback in a targeted manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1175/jcli-d-17-0723.1
Entities
People
- Isaac M. Held
- Ming Yi
- Peter J. Phillipps
- Spencer K. Clark
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Princeton University
- United States Department of Defense