HadGEM2 Radiative Kernels for Climate Model Perturbations

Radiative kernels generated from the HadGEM2-ES climate model using a pre-industrial climatology. The data includes changes in top-of-atmosphere and surface radiative fluxes for perturbations in temperature, humidity, and albedo. Kernels are provided by Chris Smith of the University of Leeds on both native model levels and standard CMIP5 pressure levels.

Use Cases

• Analyze radiative feedbacks in climate models based on provided temperature and humidity perturbations.
• Compare radiative kernel outputs between different vertical coordinate systems based on the 38 native and 17 standard pressure levels.
• Study contributions to longwave and shortwave radiative fluxes based on the separated LW, SW, and net flux data.
• Investigate surface energy budget changes based on perturbations to surface skin temperature and albedo.

Strengths

• Kernels are provided on two vertical coordinate systems: 38 native model levels and 17 standard CMIP5 pressure levels.
• Includes specific perturbations for atmospheric temperature (1 K), specific humidity, surface temperature (1 K), and surface albedo (1% absolute).
• Data separates contributions to longwave, shortwave, and net radiative fluxes for temperature and water vapor.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

University of Leeds

Collection Method

Generated from the HadGEM2-ES climate model using a pre-industrial climatology.