The Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMIP) contribution to CMIP7
Cloud processes constitute one of the key uncertainties for climate change projections. The fourth iteration of the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project, CFMIP4, contributes to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 7 (CMIP7), by providing a set of global climate model experiments aiming to enhance our understanding of clouds, circulation and climate sensitivity, thereby informing improved projections of future climate change. CFMIP4 targets four knowledge gaps: (1) Physical mechanisms of cloud feedback and adjustment; (2) Dependence of cloud feedback and adjustment on climate base state and on the nature of the forcing; (3) Coupled mechanisms of the sea-surface temperature “pattern effect”; and (4) Coupling of clouds with circulation and precipitation. CFMIP4 contributes four CMIP7 Assessment Fast Track experiments that are central to the quantification of climate feedback and sensitivity in past, present and future climates, essential for process understanding and model evaluation. Furthermore, CFMIP4 supports the joint analysis of models and observations through a data request that includes process and satellite simulator output.
Authors
- Thorsten Mauritsen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1418-4077)
- Robin Chadwick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6767-5414)
- Tomoo Ogura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8441-0044)
- Allison A. Wing (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2194-8709)
- Alejandro Bodas‐Salcedo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7890-2536)
- Mark J. Webb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7709-7088)
- Yen‐Ting Hwang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4084-1408)
- Jonathan M. Gregory (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1296-8644)
- Mark D. Zelinka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6570-5445)
- Paulo Ceppi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3754-3506)
- Masahiro Watanabe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6500-2101)
- George Tselioudis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7145-9113)
- Sarah M. Kang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4635-275X)
- Florent Brient (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8485-4705)
- An‐Zhuo Dai
- Jennifer E. Kay
- Timothy Andrews
Institutions
- Florida State University (US)
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies (US)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US)
- Met Office (GB)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (US)
- National Taiwan University (TW)
- Institut Universitaire de France (FR)
- University of Colorado Boulder (US)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (JP)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (GB)
- National Centre for Atmospheric Science (GB)
- Bolin Centre for Climate Research (SE)
- Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (DE)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- University of Reading (GB)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geoscientific model development
- Published
- 2026-09-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-8693-2026
- Primary Topic
- Climate variability and models
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science and Technology Council
- National Science Foundation
- UK Research and Innovation
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Department for Science, Innovation and Technology