Importance of the advection scheme for the simulation of water isotopes over Antarctica by general circulation models: a case study with LMDZ-iso (LMDZ5a revision 1750)

Abstract

Atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) are known to have a warm and isotopically enriched bias over Antarctica. We test here the hypothesis that these biases are consequences of a too diffusive advection. Using the LMDZ-iso 10 model, we show that a good representation of the advection, especially on the horizontal, is very important to reduce the bias in the isotopic contents of precipitation above this area and to improve the modelled water isotopes-temperature relationship. A good advection scheme is thus essential when using GCMs for paleoclimate applications based on polar water isotopes.