Inferring the Linkage of Sea Surface Height Anomalies, Surface Wind Stress and Sea Surface Temperature with the Falling Ice Radiative Effects Using Satellite Measurements and Global Climate Models

This study attempts to infer the linkage of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA), frozen hydrometeors, oceanic mixed-layer depth (MLD), surface wind stress (TAU) and sea surface ocean temperature (SST), using satellite measurements from observations and global climate modeling focusing on the cloud radiative effects over the Pacific Ocean. We use CESM1-CAM5, one with the falling ice (snow) radiative effects (FIREs-on) on (SON) and without FIREs-off (NOS) under CMIP5 historical run. The data from obs4MIPs monthly data for SSH, ERSST for SST, CloudSat-CALIPSO frozen hydrometeors, QuickSCAT for TAU satellite measurements are used as references. The seasonal and annual mean spatial patterns of SSHA difference between NOS and SON are tightly linked to the spatial pattern differences in MLD, SST and TAU over the whole domain, in particular, over south Pacific oceans. Compared with NOS, SON simulates significant improved seasonal and annual mean SSHA associated with improved sea surface temperature (SST), surface wind stress (TAU) over the trade-wind areas. In SON, the simulated mean absolute bias of SSHA over the subtropical and tropical Pacific is reduced (up to 35%) against NOS relative to observations. Compared with CMIP5 models, their ensemble mean absolute biases of SSHA show similarities to NOS mainly over the south Pacific Ocean. Despite the biases of SST and SSHA over the south and north flanks of the equator in SON, the seasonal variations of improved SSHA are closely related to those of TAU and SST resulting from the FIREs; that is, higher SSHA and deeper MLD are associated with weaker TAU and warmer SST changes and vice versa.