scholarly journals Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM1.2) for the High-Resolution Model Intercomparison Project (HighResMIP)

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3241-3281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Gutjahr ◽  
Dian Putrasahan ◽  
Katja Lohmann ◽  
Johann H. Jungclaus ◽  
Jin-Song von Storch ◽  
...  

Abstract. As a contribution towards improving the climate mean state of the atmosphere and the ocean in Earth system models (ESMs), we compare several coupled simulations conducted with the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology Earth System Model (MPI-ESM1.2) following the HighResMIP protocol. Our simulations allow to analyse the separate effects of increasing the horizontal resolution of the ocean (0.4 to 0.1∘) and atmosphere (T127 to T255) submodels, and the effects of substituting the Pacanowski and Philander (PP) vertical ocean mixing scheme with the K-profile parameterization (KPP). The results show clearly distinguishable effects from all three factors. The high resolution in the ocean removes biases in the ocean interior and in the atmosphere. This leads to the important conclusion that a high-resolution ocean has a major impact on the mean state of the ocean and the atmosphere. The T255 atmosphere reduces the surface wind stress and improves ocean mixed layer depths in both hemispheres. The reduced wind forcing, in turn, slows the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), reducing it to observed values. In the North Atlantic, however, the reduced surface wind causes a weakening of the subpolar gyre and thus a slowing down of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), when the PP scheme is used. The KPP scheme, on the other hand, causes stronger open-ocean convection which spins up the subpolar gyres, ultimately leading to a stronger and stable AMOC, even when coupled to the T255 atmosphere, thus retaining all the positive effects of a higher-resolved atmosphere.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Gutjahr ◽  
Dian Putrasahan ◽  
Katja Lohmann ◽  
Johann H. Jungclaus ◽  
Jin-Song von Storch ◽  
...  

Abstract. As a contribution towards improving the climate mean states of the atmosphere and the ocean in Earth System Models (ESMs), we compare several coupled simulations conducted with the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) following the HighResMIP protocol. Our simulations allow to analyse the separate effects of increasing the horizontal resolution of the ocean (0.4° to 0.1°) and atmosphere (T127 to T255) submodels, and the effects of substituting the Pacanowski and Philander (PP) vertical ocean mixing scheme with the K-Profile Parameterization (KPP). The results show clearly distinguishable effects from all three factors. The eddy-resolving ocean removes biases in the ocean interior and in the atmosphere. This leads to an important conclusion that ocean eddies have a major impact on the large-scale temperature distribution in the atmosphere, and on temperature and salinity distributions in the ocean. The near-surface wind forcing reduces with a T255 atmosphere and improves ocean mixed layer depths in both hemisphere. The reduced wind forcing further slows the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and reduces the transport through Drake Passage to observed values. In the North Atlantic, however, it causes a slow down of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) due to a slower subpolar gyre, when the PP scheme is used. The KPP scheme causes stronger open-ocean convection that spins up the gyres and leads to a stronger and stable AMOC, when coupled to the T255 atmosphere, maintaining all the positive effects of a higher resolved atmosphere.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Gutjahr ◽  
Nils Brüggemann ◽  
Helmuth Haak ◽  
Johann H. Jungclaus ◽  
Dian A. Putrasahan ◽  
...  

Abstract. We compare the effects of four different ocean vertical mixing schemes on the ocean mean state simulated by the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM1.2) in the framework of the Community Vertical Mixing (CVMix) library. Besides the PP and KPP scheme, we implemented the TKE scheme and a recently developed prognostic scheme for internal wave energy and its dissipation (IDEMIX) to replace the often assumed constant background diffusivity in the ocean interior. We analyse in particular the effects of IDEMIX on the ocean mean state, when combined with TKE (TKE+IDEMIX). In general, we find little sensitivity of the ocean surface, but considerable effects for the interior ocean. Overall, we cannot classify any scheme as superior, because they modify biases that vary by region or variable, but produce a similar pattern on the global scale. However, using a more realistic and energetically consistent scheme (TKE+IDEMIX) produces a more heterogeneous pattern of vertical diffusion, with lower diffusivity in deep and flat-bottom basins and elevated turbulence over rough topography. In addition, TKE+IDEMIX improves the circulation in the Nordic Seas and Fram Strait, thus reducing the warm bias of the Atlantic water (AW) layer in the Arctic Ocean to a similar extent as has been demonstrated with eddy-resolving ocean models. We conclude that although shortcomings due to model resolution determine the global-scale bias pattern, the choice of the vertical mixing scheme may play an important role for regional biases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 2317-2349
Author(s):  
Oliver Gutjahr ◽  
Nils Brüggemann ◽  
Helmuth Haak ◽  
Johann H. Jungclaus ◽  
Dian A. Putrasahan ◽  
...  

Abstract. For the first time, we compare the effects of four different ocean vertical mixing schemes on the mean state of the ocean and atmosphere in the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM1.2). These four schemes are namely the default Pacanowski and Philander (1981) (PP) scheme, the K-profile parameterization (KPP) from the Community Vertical Mixing (CVMix) library, a recently implemented scheme based on turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and a recently developed prognostic scheme for internal wave dissipation, energy, and mixing (IDEMIX) to replace the often assumed constant background diffusivity in the ocean interior. In this study, the IDEMIX scheme is combined with the TKE scheme (collectively called the TKE+IDEMIX scheme) to provide an energetically more consistent framework for mixing, as it does not rely on the unwanted effect of creating spurious energy for mixing. Energetic consistency can have implications on the climate. Therefore, we focus on the effects of TKE+IDEMIX on the climate mean state and compare them with the first three schemes that are commonly used in other models but are not energetically consistent. We find warmer sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the North Atlantic and Nordic Seas using KPP or TKE(+IDEMIX), which is related to 10 % higher overflows that cause a stronger and deeper upper cell of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and thereby an enhanced northward heat transport and higher inflow of warm and saline water from the Indian Ocean into the South Atlantic. Saltier subpolar North Atlantic and Nordic Seas lead to increased deep convection and thus to the increased overflows. Due to the warmer SSTs, the extratropics of the Northern Hemisphere become warmer with TKE(+IDEMIX), weakening the meridional gradient and thus the jet stream. With KPP, the tropics and the Southern Hemisphere also become warmer without weakening the jet stream. Using an energetically more consistent scheme (TKE+IDEMIX) produces a more heterogeneous and realistic pattern of vertical eddy diffusivity, with lower diffusivities in deep and flat-bottom basins and elevated turbulence over rough topography. IDEMIX improves in particular the diffusivity in the Arctic Ocean and reduces the warm bias in the Atlantic Water layer. We conclude that although shortcomings due to model resolution determine the global-scale bias pattern, the choice of the vertical mixing scheme may play an important role for regional biases.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuncheng Guo ◽  
Mats Bentsen ◽  
Ingo Bethke ◽  
Mehmet Ilicak ◽  
Jerry Tjiputra ◽  
...  

Abstract. A new computationally efficient version of the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM) is presented. This new version (here termed NorESM1-F) runs about 2.5 times faster (e.g. 90 model years per day on current hardware) than the version that contributed to the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison project (CMIP5), i.e., NorESM1-M, and is therefore particularly suitable for multi-millennial paleoclimate and carbon cycle simulations or large ensemble simulations. The speedup is primarily a result of using a prescribed atmosphere aerosol chemistry and a tripolar ocean-sea ice horizontal grid configuration that allows an increase of the ocean-sea ice component time steps. Ocean biogeochemistry can be activated for fully coupled and semi-coupled carbon cycle applications. This paper describes the model and evaluates its performance using observations and NorESM1-M as benchmarks. The evaluation emphasises model stability, important large-scale features in the ocean and sea ice components, internal variability in the coupled system, and climate sensitivity. Simulation results from NorESM1-F in general agree well with observational estimates, and show evident improvements over NorESM1-M, for example, in the strength of the meridional overturning circulation and sea ice simulation, both important metrics in simulating past and future climates. Whereas NorESM1-M showed a slight global cool bias in the upper oceans, NorESM1-F exhibits a global warm bias. In general, however, NorESM1-F has more similarities than dissimilarities compared to NorESM1-M, and some biases and deficiencies known in NorESM1-M remain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 343-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuncheng Guo ◽  
Mats Bentsen ◽  
Ingo Bethke ◽  
Mehmet Ilicak ◽  
Jerry Tjiputra ◽  
...  

Abstract. A new computationally efficient version of the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM) is presented. This new version (here termed NorESM1-F) runs about 2.5 times faster (e.g., 90 model years per day on current hardware) than the version that contributed to the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison project (CMIP5), i.e., NorESM1-M, and is therefore particularly suitable for multimillennial paleoclimate and carbon cycle simulations or large ensemble simulations. The speed-up is primarily a result of using a prescribed atmosphere aerosol chemistry and a tripolar ocean–sea ice horizontal grid configuration that allows an increase of the ocean–sea ice component time steps. Ocean biogeochemistry can be activated for fully coupled and semi-coupled carbon cycle applications. This paper describes the model and evaluates its performance using observations and NorESM1-M as benchmarks. The evaluation emphasizes model stability, important large-scale features in the ocean and sea ice components, internal variability in the coupled system, and climate sensitivity. Simulation results from NorESM1-F in general agree well with observational estimates and show evident improvements over NorESM1-M, for example, in the strength of the meridional overturning circulation and sea ice simulation, both important metrics in simulating past and future climates. Whereas NorESM1-M showed a slight global cool bias in the upper oceans, NorESM1-F exhibits a global warm bias. In general, however, NorESM1-F has more similarities than dissimilarities compared to NorESM1-M, and some biases and deficiencies known in NorESM1-M remain.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3099-3118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Strommen ◽  
Hannah M. Christensen ◽  
Dave MacLeod ◽  
Stephan Juricke ◽  
Tim N. Palmer

Abstract. We introduce and study the impact of three stochastic schemes in the EC-Earth climate model: two atmospheric schemes and one stochastic land scheme. These form the basis for a probabilistic Earth system model in atmosphere-only mode. Stochastic parametrization have become standard in several operational weather-forecasting models, in particular due to their beneficial impact on model spread. In recent years, stochastic schemes in the atmospheric component of a model have been shown to improve aspects important for the models long-term climate, such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic weather regimes, and the Indian monsoon. Stochasticity in the land component has been shown to improve the variability of soil processes and improve the representation of heatwaves over Europe. However, the raw impact of such schemes on the model mean is less well studied. It is shown that the inclusion of all three schemes notably changes the model mean state. While many of the impacts are beneficial, some are too large in amplitude, leading to significant changes in the model's energy budget and atmospheric circulation. This implies that in order to maintain the benefits of stochastic physics without shifting the mean state too far from observations, a full re-tuning of the model will typically be required.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 272-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Dalmonech ◽  
Sönke Zaehle ◽  
Gregor J. Schürmann ◽  
Victor Brovkin ◽  
Christian Reick ◽  
...  

Abstract The capacity of earth system models (ESMs) to make reliable projections of future atmospheric CO2 and climate is strongly dependent on the ability of the land surface model to adequately simulate the land carbon (C) cycle. Defining “adequate” performance of the land model requires an understanding of the contributions of climate model and land model errors to the land C cycle. Here, a benchmarking framework is applied based on significant, observed characteristics of the land C cycle for the contemporary period, for which sufficient evaluation data are available, to test the ability of the JSBACH land surface component of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) to simulate land C trends. Particular attention is given to the role of potential effects caused by climate biases, and therefore investigation is made of the results of model configurations in which JSBACH is interactively “coupled” to atmosphere and ocean components and of an “uncoupled” configuration, where JSBACH is driven by reconstructed meteorology. The ability of JSBACH to simulate the observed phase of phenology and seasonal C fluxes is not strongly affected by climate biases. Contrarily, noticeable differences in the simulated gross primary productivity and land C stocks emerge between coupled and uncoupled configurations, leading to significant differences in the decadal terrestrial C balance and its sensitivity to climate. These differences are strongly controlled by climate biases of the MPI-ESM, in particular those affecting soil moisture. To effectively characterize model performance, the potential effects of climate biases on the land C dynamics need to be considered during the development and calibration of land surface models.


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