Geoscientific Model Development www.geosci-model-dev.net 1991-959X 1991-9603 2 2 2009 10.5194/gmd-2-123-2009 http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/2/123/2009/ http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/2/123/2009/gmd-2-123-2009.html http://www.geosci-model-dev.net/2/123/2009/gmd-2-123-2009.pdf 123 136 2009-08-14 Simulation of land surface temperatures: comparison of two climate models and satellite retrievals J. M. Edwards john.m.edwards@metoffice.gov.uk Met Office, Exeter, UK Recently there has been significant progress in the retrieval of land surface temperature from satellite observations. Satellite retrievals of surface temperature offer several advantages, including broad spatial coverage, and such data are potentially of great value in assessing general circulation models of the atmosphere. Here, retrievals of the land surface temperature over the contiguous United States are compared with simulations from two climate models. 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