Evolution of the North American Multi-Model Ensemble

The North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) has become integral scientific infrastructure in subseasonal and seasonal climate prediction, advancing applied prediction and scientific understanding of the mechanisms and predictability of short-term climate. The NMME was designed to evolve as old models were retired and new models joined the ensemble. This study examines the assumption that prediction skill will increase as the system evolves, focusing on 2 m temperature, precipitation rate, and sea surface temperature prediction. The common period of 1982–2010 is studied for four configurations of the NMME, approximately representing the operational model suites of 2011, 2012, 2014–2018, and 2019–present. Substantial improvement in temperature prediction over both land and ocean is observed, with little change in global precipitation prediction. Sea surface temperature prediction at longer leads has improved over much of the globe, with the notable exception of the central-eastern tropical Pacific, where prediction skill has declined.