Goldberg, Climate Modelling IHM-Meteorology

Global Climate Models

• Physical description of modern GCM
 Short description:
o scientific basis (basic model equations)
o grid structure
o physical processes
o history of the first IPCC periods

 Extended descriptionlecture on Climate Systems

• Practical work with GCMEdGCM

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Scientific Basis of a GCM (http://www.csun.edu/climate/math483/EdGCMbooklet.pdf)

Ideal Gas Law

Equation of State
𝜕𝑝
= 𝜌𝑔
𝜕z
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Development of GCM resolution in the first periods of IPCC

IPCC 1992 (FAR)

EdGCM

IPCC 2007
(AR4)

(http://www.csun.edu/climate/math483/EdGCMbooklet.pdf)

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Physical components of GCM in the first periods of IPCC

(http://www.csun.edu/climate/math483/EdGCMbooklet.pdf)

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Model experiments with GCM in the first period of IPCC

FAR (1992): equilibrium simulations

5 Institutions, 7 models
mainly equilibrium
simulations

https://www.ipcc-data.org/sim/gcm_monthly/IPCC_FAR/index.html

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Model experiments with GCM in the second period of IPCC

SAR (1995): trend simulations
8 Institutions, 9 models
mainly transient simulations
(linear, exponential)

https://www.ipcc-data.org/sim/gcm_monthly/IS92A_SAR/index.html

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Model experiments with GCM in the fourth period of IPCC AR4 (2007): scenario runs

19 Institutions, 24 models
with different scenario runs

https://www.ipcc-
data.org/sim/gcm_monthly
/SRES_AR4/index.html

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Model experiments with GCM in the sixth period of IPCC AR6 (2022): SSP runs

https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/repo
rt/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf

39 Institutions, 64 models/model
versions with different SSP runs
(https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6
_WGI_AnnexII.pdf)

csv-data behind the figure:

https://greenhousegases.science.unimelb.
edu.au/#!/ghg?mode=downloads

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Working with the educational GCM (EdGCM)

• Scientific basis of EdGCM

• Software instruction (Tutorial)
• Repeat the tutorial and create own climate
scenarios

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Note:
• We use the older stand-alone-version 3.1.1
• It should work on Win10 Laptops
• See instruction at the end of the chapter

Web sources currently available

https://web.archive.org/web/20110904043935/http://edgcm.columbia.edu/docume
ntation/EdGCM_Quick_Start_Guide_v3.2.pdf (p. 15 and the following)
http://www.csun.edu/climate/math483/EdGCMbooklet.pdf

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Background Literature

Hansen, J., Russell, G., Rind, D., Stone, P., Lacis, A., Lebedeff, S., Ruedy, R., & Travis,
L. (1983). Efficient Three-Dimensional Global Models for Climate Studies: Models I
and II, Monthly Weather Review, 111(4), 609-662.
https://journals.ametsoc.org/downloadpdf/journals/mwre/111/4/1520-
0493_1983_111_0609_etdgmf_2_0_co_2.xml

Henderson-Sellers, A., and McGuffie, K. (1988). A Climate Modelling Primer. New

York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 234 p.

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Scientific Basis for EdGCM: The GCM from Hansen et al., 1983
The time before IPCC era…

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Scientific Basis for EdGCM: The GCM from Hansen et al., 1983
The time before IPCC era…

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Scientific Basis of a GCM (http://www.csun.edu/climate/math483/EdGCMbooklet.pdf)

EdGCM example simulations with doubling of pre-industrial CO2 concentration in 2100

Equilibrium Simulation Transient Global Warming Simulation

starts the simulation with immediate Run the simulation with given realistic
CO2 doubling and run up to the new annual CO2 trend from present to 2100
equilibrum of the climate system

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EdGCM:
Description and
tutorial for handling

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Preparation for the tutorial:

• Download the EdGCM folder from the cloudlink and

unzip the folder on your WIN Laptop/PC
(anywhere you want, but you should have user rights to read and wright data
in the destination folder)

https://datashare.tu-dresden.de/s/wY67oWfRW2q5Psd

Important note:
EdGCM does not work on Mac and LINUX Machines!
If you have not the possibility to use WIN10/11 machines we can offer the use of a
Virtual Machine of TU Dresden (Research Cloud System).
In this case, please contact the lecturer.

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File structure of EdGCM

Programm Start

Run the executable and open the database file in

the Database foldernext slide

The folder „Documentation“ contains the basic literature to

the model physics and applications (see slides before)

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Note: Sometimes you must repeat the input of Name: Student

the login data Password: cc2021

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If you see this window you got to start EdGCM and your are well prepared
for the next tutorial!
If you want you can continue the tutorial for the next three slides to start
your first model run or to collect questions…
Please also use the EdGCM guide, literature and documentation in the
Documentation folder for preparation

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Simulation Setup

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Preparation for next tutorial:

Setup and run two simulations with the
following input:

1. CO2 pre-industrial: 282 ppm (equilibrium

simulation)
2. CO2 2015: 400 ppm (control run, equilibrium
simulation)

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Run the Simulation

To check that your
simulation is running click
on the simulation ID in the
left window. The Run Date
should be changed. Besides
of that you can control the
state of your simulation in
the output folder where the
raw data are stored.

Note: This Window

sometimes appears
without text (depends
on your laptop
specifications and on
graphic driver)

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If possible use the

Windows button
to stop, break or
continue your
simulation

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Next Tutorial:
• Be familiar with the EdGCM analyse tools using the
output above
• Setup simulation with specific task in each learning
group
• Run the specific simulations
• Home work: prepare output for the presentations
feedback with supervisor

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