PNNL

Abstract

A hydrostatic atmospheric dynamical core is developed for the purpose of global climate modelling. The model applies a finite difference method to discretize the primitive equations on spherical icosahedral grids, using C-type staggering with triangles as control volume for mass. This paper documents the numerical method employed in the baseline version of this model, discusses its properties, and presents results from idealized test cases. The evaluation shows that the new dynamical core is able to correctly represent the evolution of baroclinic eddies in the atmosphere and their role in meridional heat and momentum transport. The simulations compare well with the reference solutions, and converge as the horizontal resolution increases. First results from two aqua planet experiments are also presented, in which the equatorial wave spectra derived from tropical precipitation agree well with those simulated by a spectral transform model. The new dynamical core thus provides a good basis for further model development. Certain aspects of the model formulation that need further investigation and improvement are also pointed out.