The NASA-Goddard Multi-scale Modeling Framework-Land Information System: Global land/atmosphere interaction with resolved convection

  • Authors:

  • Karen I. Mohr;Wei-Kuo Tao;Jiun-Dar Chern;Sujay V. Kumar;Christa D. Peters-Lidard

  • Affiliations:

  • NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA;NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA;NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA and Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA;NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA and Science Applications International Corp., McLean, VA 22102, USA;NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA

  • Venue:
  • Environmental Modelling & Software
  • Year:
  • 2013

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Abstract

The present generation of general circulation models (GCM) use parameterized cumulus schemes and run at hydrostatic grid resolutions. To improve the representation of cloud-scale moist processes and land-atmosphere interactions, a global, Multi-scale Modeling Framework (MMF) coupled to the Land Information System (LIS) has been developed at NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center. The MMF-LIS has three components, a finite-volume (fv) GCM (Goddard Earth Observing System Ver. 4, GEOS-4), a 2D cloud-resolving model (Goddard Cumulus Ensemble, GCE), and the LIS, representing the large-scale atmospheric circulation, cloud processes, and land surface processes, respectively. The non-hydrostatic GCE model replaces the single-column cumulus parameterization of fvGCM. The model grid is composed of an array of fvGCM gridcells each with a series of embedded GCE models. A horizontal coupling strategy, GCE @? fvGCM @? Coupler @? LIS, offered significant computational efficiency, with the scalability and I/O capabilities of LIS permitting land-atmosphere interactions at cloud-scale. Global simulations of 2007-2008 and comparisons to observations and reanalysis products were conducted. Using two different versions of the same land surface model but the same initial conditions, divergence in regional, synoptic-scale surface pressure patterns emerged within two weeks. The sensitivity of large-scale circulations to land surface model physics revealed significant functional value to using a scalable, multi-model land surface modeling system in global weather and climate prediction.