A Comparison of CCM2–BATS Skin Temperature and Surface-Air Temperature with Satellite and Surface Observations

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Abstract
This paper reports on two types of comparisons that were conducted. First, 10-yr modeled skin temperatures were compared with observations to evaluate model simulations of this quantity. The simulations were conducted with the NCAR CCM2 coupled with the Biosphere–Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS). The observations were obtained from TIROS-N/HIRS-2 and the First ISLSCP Field Experiment in situ measurements. Second, modeled skin temperatures were compared with surface-air temperatures to illustrate the differences between them at various spatial and temporal resolutions. This is the first such study of skin temperature in a GCM. When compared with the observations, it is evident that the CCM2–BATS can successfully reproduce many features of skin temperature, including its global-scale pattern, seasonal and diurnal variations, and the effects of the land surface type. However, modeled skin temperature seems to be underestimated in high latitudes in January and overestimated in low- and midlatitudes,... Abstract This paper reports on two types of comparisons that were conducted. First, 10-yr modeled skin temperatures were compared with observations to evaluate model simulations of this quantity. The simulations were conducted with the NCAR CCM2 coupled with the Biosphere–Atmosphere Transfer Scheme (BATS). The observations were obtained from TIROS-N/HIRS-2 and the First ISLSCP Field Experiment in situ measurements. Second, modeled skin temperatures were compared with surface-air temperatures to illustrate the differences between them at various spatial and temporal resolutions. This is the first such study of skin temperature in a GCM. When compared with the observations, it is evident that the CCM2–BATS can successfully reproduce many features of skin temperature, including its global-scale pattern, seasonal and diurnal variations, and the effects of the land surface type. However, modeled skin temperature seems to be underestimated in high latitudes in January and overestimated in low- and midlatitudes,...

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