An assessment of simulations of climate variability over Australia with a limited area model

Abstract

Simulation with a general circulation model (GCM) and a limited area model (LAM) are presented for two contrasting years of observed rainfall over Australia, 1982 and 1988. The LAM to forced at its lateral boundaries by the GCM simulation. Both models were forced with the observed sea-surface temperatures of those years, and five realizations of each model were performed in order to reduce the effects of internal variability. The resulting simulations are compared with observed rainfall for both years. Both models simulate differences in the mean rainfall over Australia between the two years that are similar to observed differences. Although the LAM has larger positive inherent biases that t..