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Title: Statistically Steady State Large-Eddy Simulations Forced by an Idealized GCM: 1. Forcing Framework and Simulation Characteristics

Abstract

Using large-eddy simulations (LES) systematically has the potential to inform parameterizations of subgrid-scale (SGS) processes in general circulation models (GCMs), such as turbulence, convection, and clouds. Here we show how LES can be run to emulate grid columns of GCMs to generate a library of LES across a cross-section of dynamical regimes. The LES setup replicates the thermodynamic and water budgets in GCM grid columns. Resolved horizontal and vertical transports of heat and water and large-scale pressure gradients from the GCM are prescribed as forcing in the LES. The LES satisfies the same (slab-ocean) surface boundary conditions as the GCM, leaving the LES temperatures free to adjust. Radiative transfer is treated in a unied but highly idealized manner (a semi-gray atmosphere without cloud radiative effects) in both the GCM and LES. We show that the LES with these forcing and boundary conditions reaches statistically steady states without nudging to reference profiles. These steady states provide a training dataset for developing GCM parameterizations. The same LES setup also provides a good basis for studying the cloud response to global warming.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [4]
  1. California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  3. Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)
  4. California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Dept. of Environmental Science and Engineering and Jet Propulsion Lab. (JPL)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Mountain Philanthropies; EarthRise Alliance; Charles Trimble; Paul G. Allen Family Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
OSTI Identifier:
1605554
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-144935
Journal ID: ISSN 1942-2466
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830; 1835860
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 12; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1942-2466
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Shen, Zhaoyi, Pressel, Kyle G., Tan, Zhihong, and Schneider, Tapio. Statistically Steady State Large-Eddy Simulations Forced by an Idealized GCM: 1. Forcing Framework and Simulation Characteristics. United States: N. p., 2020. Web. doi:10.1029/2019MS001814.
Shen, Zhaoyi, Pressel, Kyle G., Tan, Zhihong, & Schneider, Tapio. Statistically Steady State Large-Eddy Simulations Forced by an Idealized GCM: 1. Forcing Framework and Simulation Characteristics. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001814
Shen, Zhaoyi, Pressel, Kyle G., Tan, Zhihong, and Schneider, Tapio. Sat . "Statistically Steady State Large-Eddy Simulations Forced by an Idealized GCM: 1. Forcing Framework and Simulation Characteristics". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019MS001814. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1605554.
@article{osti_1605554,
title = {Statistically Steady State Large-Eddy Simulations Forced by an Idealized GCM: 1. Forcing Framework and Simulation Characteristics},
author = {Shen, Zhaoyi and Pressel, Kyle G. and Tan, Zhihong and Schneider, Tapio},
abstractNote = {Using large-eddy simulations (LES) systematically has the potential to inform parameterizations of subgrid-scale (SGS) processes in general circulation models (GCMs), such as turbulence, convection, and clouds. Here we show how LES can be run to emulate grid columns of GCMs to generate a library of LES across a cross-section of dynamical regimes. The LES setup replicates the thermodynamic and water budgets in GCM grid columns. Resolved horizontal and vertical transports of heat and water and large-scale pressure gradients from the GCM are prescribed as forcing in the LES. The LES satisfies the same (slab-ocean) surface boundary conditions as the GCM, leaving the LES temperatures free to adjust. Radiative transfer is treated in a unied but highly idealized manner (a semi-gray atmosphere without cloud radiative effects) in both the GCM and LES. We show that the LES with these forcing and boundary conditions reaches statistically steady states without nudging to reference profiles. These steady states provide a training dataset for developing GCM parameterizations. The same LES setup also provides a good basis for studying the cloud response to global warming.},
doi = {10.1029/2019MS001814},
journal = {Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems},
number = 2,
volume = 12,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Sat Jan 25 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}

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