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Development of earth/climate system models in China: A review from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project perspective

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Abstract

The development of coupled earth/climate system models in China over the past 20 years is reviewed, including a comparison with other international models that participated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) from phase 1 (CMIP1) to phase 4 (CMIP4). The Chinese contribution to CMIP is summarized, and the major achievements from CMIP1 to CMIP3 are listed as a reference for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese models. After a description of CMIP5 experiments, the five Chinese models that participated in CMIP5 are then introduced. Furthermore, following a review of the current status of international model development, both the challenges and opportunities for the Chinese climate modeling community are discussed. The development of high-resolution climate models, earth system models, and improvements in atmospheric and oceanic general circulation models, which are core components of earth/climate system models, are highlighted. To guarantee the sustainable development of climate system models in China, the need for national-level coordination is discussed, along with a list of the main components and supporting elements identified by the US National Strategy for Advancing Climate Modeling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100029, China

    Tianjun Zhou  (周天军), Liwei Zou  (邹立维), Bo Wu  (吴 波), Chenxi **  (金晨曦), Fengfei Song  (宋丰飞), **aolong Chen  (陈晓龙) & Lixia Zhang  (张丽霞)

  2. Climate Change Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijng, 100029, China

    Tianjun Zhou  (周天军)

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  1. Tianjun Zhou  (周天军)
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  2. Liwei Zou  (邹立维)
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  3. Bo Wu  (吴 波)
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  4. Chenxi **  (金晨曦)
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  5. Fengfei Song  (宋丰飞)
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  6. **aolong Chen  (陈晓龙)
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  7. Lixia Zhang  (张丽霞)
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Correspondence to Tianjun Zhou  (周天军).

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41125017 and 41330423) and LASG/IAP Funding for the Development of Climate System Model.

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Zhou, T., Zou, L., Wu, B. et al. Development of earth/climate system models in China: A review from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project perspective. J Meteorol Res 28, 762–779 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13351-014-4501-9

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