Water Isotope Model Intercomparison Project (WisoMIP): Present-day Climate
Abstract
We present the first results of the Water Isotope Model Intercomparison Project (WisoMIP), with Phase 1 focused on modern simulations (1979–2023) from a suite of isotope-enabled atmospheric general circulation models nudged to ERA5 reanalyses. Water sources, mixing, and rainout history influence the isotopic composition of vapor and precipitation, making these simulations powerful tools for tracing the global water cycle. By prescribing identical winds, sea surface temperatures, and sea ice conditions, we isolate differences in water isotope behavior across models, controlling for variability in atmospheric dynamics and mean climate. Our analyses show that the ensemble mean best matches observations, as individual model errors cancel out to yield a more accurate representation of Earth's isotope distributions. We also evaluate trends and responses to major climate modes during the recent warming period, highlighting regional and temporal sensitivities in the isotope signals. These diagnostics extend beyond traditional model evaluation metrics (e.g., temperature, precipitation) to reveal uncertainties in physical processes and guide improvements in model parameterizations. The resulting modern nudged ensemble dataset serves as a benchmark for isotope-enabled model development, satellite product comparison, and understanding of water cycle changes in a warming climate. Given its standardized design and broad participation, WisoMIP provides a valuable "isotope reanalysis" product for applications ranging from paleoclimate reconstruction to model tuning. Our work demonstrates the importance of coordinated isotope model evaluation in advancing the use of water isotopes as a diagnostic tool in climate science.
Authors 28
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Hayoung Bong corresponding
Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, USA
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Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research · NSF NCAR Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory
Affiliation as printed
Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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Los Alamos National Laboratory
Affiliation as printed
Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement
Affiliation as printed
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), IPSL, CEA–CNRS–UVSQ, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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Japan Meteorological Agency · Meteorological Research Institute
Affiliation as printed
Meteorological Research Institute, Japan Meteorological Agency, Tsukuba, Japan
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement
Affiliation as printed
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), IPSL, CEA–CNRS–UVSQ, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Affiliation as printed
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Institute for Advanced Academic Research / Center for Environmental Remote Sensing (CEReS), Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · École Normale Supérieure - PSL · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique · Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Affiliation as printed
Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) – IPSL, Sorbonne Université / CNRS / École Normale Supérieure – PSL / École Polytechnique – Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Paris, France
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Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research · University of Bergen
Affiliation as printed
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
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Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement
Affiliation as printed
Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement
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Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research · University of Bergen
Affiliation as printed
Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, and Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
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NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research · NSF NCAR Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory
Affiliation as printed
Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Boulder, CO, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-ASF), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
Space Research Organisation Netherlands, Leiden, Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
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Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Affiliation as printed
NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY, USA
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