BACKGROUND

A fundamental issue in atmospheric modeling is the dependence of errors in atmospheric general circulation models on their basic dynamical cores, their underlying numerical approximations and spatial resolution, independent of physical parameterizations. To advance work in this area, the CAS/JSC Working Group on Numerical Experimentation (WGNE) is sponsoring a special session devoted to tests for dynamical cores.

PROGRAM

At the previous workshop it was agreed that three-dimensional tests for global atmospheric models are badly needed. The current shallow water tests are not sufficient, in part because they include only deterministic cases. Tests involving systems with turbulent cascade in which dissipation is an important component are needed. Novel methods of characterizing the stochastic properties of models are also sought.

Two test cases for dynamical cores of atmospheric models have been proposed recently: Held and Suarez ("A Proposal for the Intercomparison of the Dynamical Cores of Atmospheric General Circulation Models", 1994, Bul. Amer. Meteor. Soc, 1825-1830), and Boer and Denis ("Numerical Convergence of the Dynamics of AGCMs", Climate Dynamics, 1997, 359-374).

An informal group has been established to discuss experiences with existing dynamical core test cases, to collect results from existing experiments to allow further examination and comparison, and to design additional test cases for use in evaluating dynamical cores of atmospheric general circulation models. All interested researchers are welcome to join this group. (Contact David Williamson at wmson@ncar.ucar.edu if you would like to be added to the group mailing list.)

Topics of special interest include:

Review of experience with the proposed test cases, including what has been learned and what can be learned from such tests.

Introduction of additional test cases and experience with them.

A discussion of what types of additional tests might be useful.

ABSTRACTS

Meeting Agenda

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