Articles | Volume 26, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5249-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-5249-2026
Research article
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21 Apr 2026
Research article | Highlight paper |  | 21 Apr 2026

Evaluation of stratospheric transport in three generations of Chemistry-Climate Models

Marta Abalos, Thomas Birner, Andreas Chrysanthou, Sean Davis, Alvaro de la Cámara, Sandip Dhomse, Hella Garny, Michaela I. Hegglin, Daan Hubert, Oksana Ivaniha, James Keeble, Marianna Linz, Daniele Minganti, Jessica Neu, David Plummer, Laura Saunders, Kasturi Shah, Gabriele Stiller, Kleareti Tourpali, Darryn Waugh, Nathan Luke Abraham, Hideharu Akiyoshi, Martyn P. Chipperfield, Patrick Jöckel, Béatrice Josse, Marion Marchand, Patrick Martineau, Olaf Morgenstern, Timofei Sukhodolov, Shingo Watanabe, and Yousuke Yamashita

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Cited articles

Abalos, M., Legras, B., Ploeger, F., and Randel, W. J.: Evaluating the advective Brewer-Dobson circulation in three reanalyses for the period 1979–2012, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 120, 7534–7554, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JD023182, 2015. a
Abalos, M., Polvani, L., Calvo, N., Kinnison, D., Ploeger, F., Randel, W., and Solomon, S.: New Insights on the Impact of Ozone-Depleting Substances on the Brewer-Dobson Circulation, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 2435–2451, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029301, 2019. a
Abalos, M., Orbe, C., Kinnison, D. E., Plummer, D., Oman, L. D., Jöckel, P., Morgenstern, O., Garcia, R. R., Zeng, G., Stone, K. A., and Dameris, M.: Future trends in stratosphere-to-troposphere transport in CCMI models, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 20, 6883–6901, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-6883-2020, 2020. a
Abalos, M., Calvo, N., Benito-Barca, S., Garny, H., Hardiman, S. C., Lin, P., Andrews, M. B., Butchart, N., Garcia, R., Orbe, C., Saint-Martin, D., Watanabe, S., and Yoshida, K.: The Brewer–Dobson circulation in CMIP6, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 13571–13591, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13571-2021, 2021. a, b, c
Acquah, C., Stecher, L., Mertens, M., and Jöckel, P.: Effects of different emission inventories on tropospheric ozone and methane lifetime, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 13665–13686, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-13665-2025, 2025. a
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Editorial statement
Correct simulation of stratospheric transport in Chemistry-Climate Models is a key requirement for their usefulness for future climate prediction. This study reports a comprehensive intercomparison of the simulation of the recent history of stratospheric transport in three generations of Chemistry-Climate Models, validating them against state-of-the-art observational datasets, clearly identifying major biases and discussing potential causes and impacts. The biases persist over model generations and, by some measures, increase for the most recent generation. These results have important implications for the climate science community, including model builders and those seeking to strengthen the underpinning science through process studies and new observations.
Short summary
Accurate representation of stratospheric transport in Chemistry-Climate Models is essential for reliable climate projections. This study evaluates three generations of models using observational data and reanalyses, identifying persistent biases and their potential causes. Some biases persist or even worsen in newer models. These findings highlight key limitations and inform efforts to improve models and advance understanding through process-based studies and enhanced observations.
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