SGER: Parameterization of the Topographic Control on the Runoff Production Coupled to the CCSM Core Single-Column Land Model

University Of Arizona, Tucson AZ

Investigators

Abstract

The Land Model Working Group of the Community Climate Systems Model (CCSM) has completed a prototype core single-column land model, designated the Community Land Model (CLM), and has demonstrated its success, as well as identified areas for further improvement. One of the areas that requires immediate improvement is runoff. The PI has developed an improved treatment of grid-scale run off by accounting for topographic influence on soil moisture heterogeneity and run off characteristics. Preliminary testing on regional and global scales shows the model performs satisfactorily. Under this award, the PI will complete testing/finalizing of the runoff scheme in CLM, and ensure its successful implementation in CSM. The work is important because it should provide a strong diagnostics underpinning to the CCSM project from a university based group engaged in dynamical diagnosis of observed climate variability.