Analysis of water and heat balance components in the Lake Ladoga watershedas computed by atmospheric general circulation models

The annual cycle of the components of the water and heat balances in the La ke Ladoga watershed is analyzed using outputs of 14 atmospheric general cir culation models run in the framework of the international Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP). The model results are compared with observ ational data. The surface air temperature, short- and long-wave surface rad iation balances, total cloud cover, precipitation, and water balance (preci pitation minus evaporation) are considered for the lake and its watershed. The rms errors in the annual cycles of the water-balance components and the ir seasonal and interannual variability are estimated for each model. The s imulated and observed data, accumulated throughout 1980-1988, agree within 20-30%.