Development and Applications of Embedded Spectral-Element and Fourier-Ray Codes for High-Resolution Dynamics Studies within Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM)

Northwest Research Associates, Incorporated, Seattle WA

Investigators

Abstract

A high spatial-resolution spectral-element code, describing wave propagation, wave-wave interactions, and wave-mean flow interactions is incorporated into the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) for the purpose of improving our understanding of climate change and its signature in the middle atmosphere. This spectral-element code replaces traditional finite difference codes, which are limited in computational efficiency (and thus spatial resolution), and are very unreliable at small scale. In addition, a Fourier ray-tracing code is also imbedded within WACCM, permitting three-dimensional description of gravity wave propagation and the interaction of gravity waves generated by multiple sources. These codes, when embedded in WACCM, provide a realistic description of the middle atmosphere, including internal gravity wave forcing, against which climate response can be accurately isolated.