Uncertainty in predicting the Eurasian snow: Intercomparison of land surface models coupled to a regional climate model

Variability of large and synoptic scale circulations in Asia is strongly affected by the winter and spring Eurasian snow. Therefore, an accurate prediction of the Eurasian snow is of the utmost importance in predicting the climate and weather phenomena in Asia. Most global/regional models are coupled with several land surface models (LSMs) in which the land surface process parameters are calculated under their own physical principles and parameterization schemes. In this study, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, we make intercomparision of LSMs in terms of simulating the Eurasian snow. Simulations are carried out from 1 June 2009 to 31 August 2010, including a spin-up time of 6 months, by employing four different LSMs – the Unified Noah LSM, the Noah LSM with multiparameterization options (Noah-MP), the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) LSM, and the Community Land Model version 4 (CLM4). The NCEP Final (FNL) Operational Global Analysis data are used as initial and boundary conditions. The LSM results are evaluated using the Canadian Meteorological Centre Daily Snow Depth Analysis Data, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra Snow Cover Monthly L3 Global 0.05Deg Climte Modeling Grid (CMG) Version 6, and the MODIS Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)/Albedo Product. Although all the LSMs represent reasonable results, the Noah-MP represents the most accurate predictions in all three variables (snow depth, fractional snow cover, and albedo), in terms of not only quantitative aspects but also spatial correlation patterns. Our results indicate that prediction of the Eurasian snow cover is sensitive to the choice of LSMs coupled to the global/regional climate models, and hence the future climate projections.