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Title: Impact of the dynamical core on the direct simulation of tropical cyclones in a high-resolution global model

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL063974· OSTI ID:1407283
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. State Univ. of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook, NY (United States). School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences; National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States). Climate and Global Dynamics Lab.
  2. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States). Climate and Global Dynamics Lab.
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
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Our paper examines the impact of the dynamical core on the simulation of tropical cyclone (TC) frequency, distribution, and intensity. The dynamical core, the central fluid flow component of any general circulation model (GCM), is often overlooked in the analysis of a model's ability to simulate TCs compared to the impact of more commonly documented components (e.g., physical parameterizations). The Community Atmosphere Model version 5 is configured with multiple dynamics packages. This analysis demonstrates that the dynamical core has a significant impact on storm intensity and frequency, even in the presence of similar large-scale environments. In particular, the spectral element core produces stronger TCs and more hurricanes than the finite-volume core using very similar parameterization packages despite the latter having a slightly more favorable TC environment. Furthermore, these results suggest that more detailed investigations into the impact of the GCM dynamical core on TC climatology are needed to fully understand these uncertainties. Key Points The impact of the GCM dynamical core is often overlooked in TC assessments The CAM5 dynamical core has a significant impact on TC frequency and intensity A larger effort is needed to better understand this uncertainty

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; AC02-06CH11357; FC02-97ER62402; OCI-0725070
OSTI ID:
1407283
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 42, Issue 9; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 49 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (8)

Why is the simulated climatology of tropical cyclones so sensitive to the choice of cumulus parameterization scheme in the WRF model? journal January 2018
Impact of air–sea coupling on the simulated global tropical cyclone activity in the high-resolution Community Earth System Model (CESM) journal March 2019
Projected changes in tropical cyclone activity under future warming scenarios using a high-resolution climate model journal August 2016
Physical understanding of the tropical cyclone wind-pressure relationship journal November 2017
Tropical cyclones in the GISS ModelE2 journal July 2016
Changes in tropical cyclones under stabilized 1.5 and 2.0 °C global warming scenarios as simulated by the Community Atmospheric Model under the HAPPI protocols journal January 2018
DCMIP2016: the splitting supercell test case journal January 2019
Tropical cyclones in the GISS ModelE2 text January 2016

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