R. Swinbank et al., MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE VARIABILITY IN THE UK METEOROLOGICAL-OFFICE UNIFIEDMODEL, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 124(549), 1998, pp. 1485-1525
This paper describes the seasonal evolution of the stratospheric circu
lation simulated by a stratosphere-troposphere configuration of the UK
Meteorological Office (UKMO) Unified Model. Results are shown from a
five-year integration of the model. The model's simulation of the stra
tosphere and its seasonal evolution compares well with global analyses
produced by the UKMO troposphere-stratosphere data-assimilation syste
m. The contrast between the winter circulation in the two hemispheres
is well simulated. The zonal-mean winds show strong interannual variab
ility in northern winter, while the southern hemisphere winterjet is m
uch less variable. In northern winter the model spontaneously produces
two major warmings and a number of minor warmings. In southern winter
and spring the model reproduces well the break-up of the polar vortex
and elements of the flow regime that often precedes this break-up. Th
e model does, however, exhibit a number of shortcomings. Lack of conse
rvation of potential vorticity prevents the model from capturing some
of the ingredients of the flow regimes associated with stratospheric w
armings and with the merger of anticyclones. There is a cold bias in t
he stratosphere throughout the year, with a maximum cold bias over the
winter pole near the stratopause. This temperature bias appears to be
due to a cooling bias in the long-wave part of the radiation scheme.
The model also has unrealistically strong planetary waves in the upper
stratosphere, although amplitudes in the upper troposphere and lower
stratosphere are in good agreement with those derived from the UKMO an
alyses. This paper discusses possible future model improvements that s
hould alleviate these problems.