Simulations of Antarctic climate using a limited area model

Abstract

A limited area model is nested within the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) analyses and climate simulations are performed for July at a resolution of 125 km for a domain located over the continent of Antarctica. The model displays negative biases of mean sea level pressure off the coast of East Antarctica, and positive biases in other oceanic regions close to the coast of the continent. Biases of surface air temperature are generally modest over the continent; the quality of the temperature simulation is more difficult to assess over the areas of sea ice close to the coast, as the ECMWF analyses do not include an open water fraction. The model simulation of snow acc..