Reply to comment by Qingyuan Han on "metrics to describe the dynamical evolution of atmospheric moisture: Intercomparison of model (NARR) and observations (ISCCP)"

Coupling strength described by TB08 is not to beinterpreted as a measure of model "goodness", but rather as adiagnostic of nonlinear dynamics in models and observingsystems. This argument is more clearly explained in thecontext of the results presented in Figure 16 of TB08(Figure 2 here) as compared to the theoretical behavior ofnonlinear systems (Figure 1), which is overlooked by Han10.TB08 do not ignore that the ISCCP data reflect cloudinessfrom different levels in the atmosphere, and this is the motivationfor further exploring the spatial patterns of FSLE forNARR cloud water at specific heights instead of relying onprecipitable water alone, also overlooked by Han10.[22] The issues raised by Han10 stem not from technicalflaws, but from a misunderstanding of the results and scopeof the analysis presented by TB08. The purpose of this replyis to clarify these matters, and it is hoped that will inspireothers to work toward systemic evaluations of models and observations. Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.

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Author Ana P. Barros Civil and Environmental Engineering