Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-270
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-270
18 Apr 2023
 | 18 Apr 2023
Status: this preprint is open for discussion.

Emulating lateral gravity wave propagation in a global chemistry-climate model (EMAC v2.55.2) through horizontal flux redistribution

Roland Eichinger, Sebastian Rhode, Hella Garny, Peter Preusse, Petr Pisoft, Aleš Kuchar, Patrick Jöckel, Astrid Kerkweg, and Bastian Kern

Abstract. The columnar approach of gravity wave (GW) parameterisations in weather and climate models has been identified as a potential reason for dynamical biases in middle atmospheric dynamics. For example, GW momentum flux (GWMF) discrepancies between models and observations at 60° S arising through the lack of horizontal orographic GW propagation is suspected to cause deficiencies in representing the Antarctic polar vortex. However, due to the decomposition of the model domains onto different computing tasks for parallelisation, communication between horizontal grid boxes is computationally extremely expensive, making horizontal propagation of GWs unfeasible for global chemistry-climate simulations.

To overcome this issue, we here present a simplified solution approximating horizontal GW propagation through redistribution of the GWMF at one single altitude by means of tailor-made redistribution maps. To generate the global redistribution maps averaged for each grid box, we use a parameterisation describing orography as a set of mountain ridges with specified location, orientation and height combined with a ray-tracing model describing lateral propagation of so-generated mountain waves. In the global chemistry-climate model (CCM) EMAC (ECHAM MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry), these maps then allow us to redistribute the GW momentum flux horizontally at one level obtaining an affordable overhead of computing resources. The results of our simulations show GWMF and drag patterns which are horizontally more spread-out than with the purely columnar approach, GWs now also are present above the ocean and regions without mountains. In this paper, we provide a detailed description of how the redistribution maps are computed and how the GWMF redistribution is implemented in the CCM. Moreover, an analysis shows why 15 km is the ideal altitude for the redistribution. First results with the redistributed orographic GWMF provide clear evidence that the redistributed GW drag in the Southern Hemisphere has the potential to modify and improve Antarctic polar vortex dynamics, thereby paving the way for enhanced credibility of CCM simulations and projections of polar stratospheric ozone.

Roland Eichinger et al.

Status: open (until 13 Jun 2023)

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  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-270', Anonymous Referee #1, 28 May 2023 reply

Roland Eichinger et al.

Roland Eichinger et al.

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Short summary
Dynamical model biases result from the columnar approach of gravity wave (GW) schemes, but parallel decomposition makes horizontal GW propagation computationally unfeasible. In the global model EMAC, we approximate it by GW redistribution at one altitude using tailor-made redistribution maps generated with a ray-tracer. More spread-out GW drag helps reconciling the model with observations and closing the 60S GW gap. Polar vortex dynamics are improved, enhancing climate model credibility.