Atmospheric Parameterization Schemes for Evaporation over Land: Basic Concepts and Climate Modeling Aspects

Abstract

For more than a decade, evidence has been accumulating from climate model experiments that the climate is sensitive to variations in evaporation at the land surface. The experiments of Walker and Rowntree (1977) and Charney et al. (1977) demonstrated considerable sensitivity to initial soil moisture and the parameterization of evaporation, respectively. These and some subsequent experiments were reviewed by Mintz (1984) and Rowntree (1988). Rowntree and Sangster (1986) reviewed experiments on the effects of changes in albedo and surface moisture availability, both of which affect evaporation, on climate in the Sahel region. Table 2.1, taken from that paper, summarizes these responses.KeywordsSoil MoistureGeneral Circulation ModelVapor Pressure DeficitRoughness LengthSurface AlbedoThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.