CCSM CAM3 T341 Cloud and Precipitation Simulation

Introduction

Today's generation of climate models are typically run at resolutions that cover the globe with a 256 by 128 longitude/latitude horizontal grid or about a 1.4 degree latitude-longitude grid at the equator.

An experimental version of the CCSM CAM3 was run at a resolution much more similar to a global numerical weather prediction model (1024x512 grid points which is 0.35 degree global grid increment) where the solution was sampled hourly for an entire year. At this resolution, fine scale, transient systems such as hurricanes and typhoons become visible - something that is not seen in lower resolution experiments.

The Research Effort

The Community Climate System Model (CCSM) is a coupled climate model for simulating Earth's climate system. Composed of four separate models simultaneously simulating the earth's atmosphere, ocean, land surface and sea-ice, and one central coupler component, the CCSM allows researchers to conduct fundamental research into Earth's past, present and future climate states.

The Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) is the latest in a series of global atmosphere models developed at NCAR for the weather and climate research communities. CAM also serves as the atmospheric component of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM).

The CAM 3.0 is the fifth generation of the NCAR atmospheric GCM. In contrast to previous generations of the atmospheric model, CAM 3.0 has been designed through a collaborative process with users and developers in the Atmospheric Model Working Group (AMWG). The AMWG includes scientists from NCAR, the university community, and government laboratories.

CCSM is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). CCSM is a project within the Climate & Global Dynamics Division (CGD) of the Earth and Sun Systems Laboratory (ESSL) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

Column summed water vapor is rendered in white and precipitation rate is rendered in orange. At the end of January, note the well-developed cyclone over the Indian Ocean, and in August, two super-typhoons appear off the southern coast of Japan.

James J. Hack
Julie M. Caron
John E. Truesdale