A new coupled climate system model (CSM) has been developed at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS) by employing several state-of-the-art component models. The coupled CAMS-CSM consists of the modified atmospheric model [ECmwf-HAMburg (ECHAM5)], ocean model [Modular Ocean Model (MOM4)], sea ice model [Sea Ice Simulator (SIS)], and land surface model [Common Land Model (CoLM)]. A detailed model description is presented and both the pre-industrial and “historical” simulations are preliminarily evaluated in this study. The model can reproduce the climatological mean states and seasonal cycles of the major climate system quantities, including the sea surface temperature, precipitation, sea ice extent, and the equatorial thermocline. The major climate variability modes are also reasonably captured by the CAMS-CSM, such as the Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO), El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM), and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The model shows a promising ability to simulate the EASM variability and the ENSO–EASM relationship. Some biases still exist, such as the false double-intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) in the annual mean precipitation field, the overestimated ENSO amplitude, and the weakened Bjerknes feedback associated with ENSO; and thus the CAMS-CSM needs further improvements.

A global model formulation for unified weather‐climate forecast is evaluated, with emphasis on the climate simulations at typical hydrostatic resolutions. The internal sensitivity is explored by considering different dynamical configurations (resolution, solver type, transport scheme). After a basic assessment of the global mean climate, a detailed analysis of precipitation characteristics is extended to East Asia. The model shows a reasonable mean state, seasonal variation, frequency–intensity structure, and diurnal phase time. The artificial rainfall around the steep slopes of the Tibetan Plateau can be improved through choices in the dynamical configuration. The regional features characterized by “afternoon versus nocturnal‐to‐early‐morning peaks” are properly distinguished. The hourly climatic features are comparable to super‐parameterized CAM5. Different dynamical configurations demonstrate unique sensitivities related to underling physical mechanisms, which are studied from the perspective of the diurnal cycle for three representative regions. Over South China, the higher‐resolution models decrease the weak‐precipitation while increase intense rainfall, thus reducing the dry biases. This is contributed by enhanced grid and sub‐grid scale motions associated with daytime convection progression. Over central western China, the variable‐resolution model better simulates the eastward propagating episodes characterized by a transition from convective to stratiform rainfall along the eastern slope of the Plateau. This reduces the positive biases at the high topography of the Plateau and alleviates the negative biases at the lower foot. Over central eastern China, the model replicates the dominant role of large‐scale governing factors in regulating the early morning rainfall peaks, and produces stratiform heating patterns.

The microphysical properties of convective precipitation over the Tibetan Plateau are unique because of the extremely high topography and special atmospheric conditions. In this study, the ground‐based cloud radar and disdrometer observations as well as high‐resolution Weather Research and Forecasting simulations with the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences microphysics and four other microphysical schemes are used to investigate the microphysics and precipitation mechanisms of a convection event on 24 July 2014. The Weather Research and Forecasting‐Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences simulation reasonably reproduces the spatial distribution of 24‐hr accumulated rainfall, yet the temporal evolution of rain rate has a delay of 1–3 hr. The model reflectivity shares the common features with the cloud radar observations. The simulated raindrop size distributions demonstrate more of small‐ and large‐size raindrops produced with the increase of rain rate, suggesting that changeable shape parameter should be used in size distribution. Results show that abundant supercooled water exists through condensation of water vapor above the freezing layer. The prevailing ice crystal microphysical processes are depositional growth and autoconversion of ice crystal to snow. The dominant source term of snow/graupel is riming of supercooled water. Sedimentation of graupel can play a vital role in the formation of precipitation, but melting of snow is rather small and quite different from that in other regions. Furthermore, water vapor budgets suggest that surface moisture flux be the principal source of water vapor and self‐circulation of moisture happen at the beginning of convection, while total moisture flux convergence determine condensation and precipitation during the convective process over the Tibetan Plateau.

As one of the major producers of extreme precipitation, mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) have received much attention. Recently, MCSs over several hotpots, including the Sahel and US Great Plains, have been found to intensify under global warming. However, relevant studies on the East Asian rainband, another MCS hotpot, are scarce. Here, by using a novel rain‐cell tracking algorithm on a high spatiotemporal resolution satellite precipitation product, we show that both the frequency and intensity of MCSs over the East Asian rainband have increased by 21.8% and 9.8% respectively over the past two decades (2000–2021). The more frequent and intense MCSs contribute nearly three quarters to the total precipitation increase. The changes in MCSs are caused by more frequent favorable large‐scale water vapor‐rich environments that are likely to increase under global warming. The increased frequency and intensity of MCSs have profound impacts on the hydroclimate of East Asia, including producing extreme events such as severe flooding.