Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1586
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1586
24 Apr 2025
 | 24 Apr 2025

REMO2020: a modernized modular regional climate model

Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Kevin Sieck, Lars Buntemeyer, Thomas Frisius, Christine Nam, Peter Hoffmann, Christina Pop, Diana Rechid, and Daniela Jacob

Abstract. This paper introduces REMO2020, a modernized version of the well-known and widely used REMO regional climate model.  REMO2020 has undergone fundamental changes in its code structure to provide a more modular, operationally focused design, facilitating the inclusion of new components and updates. Here, we describe the default configuration of REMO2020, which includes the following updates compared to the previous version REMO2015: (i) FLake lake model; (ii) state-of-the-art MACv2-SP aerosol climatology; (iii) newly developed 3-layer snow module; (iv) a prognostic precipitation scheme; (v) an updated time filter; and (vi) a new tuning approach. Additionally, we describe some optional modules that can be activated separately, such as the interactive MOsaic based VEgetation model iMOVE. REMO2020 outperforms the previous REMO version in almost all areas used to evaluate the European climate. The persistent warm temperature bias over Central Europe and the cold temperature bias over Northern Europe have been significantly reduced in REMO2020. Similarly, the previously modeled dry bias areas in Central Europe are almost entirely gone, and the wet bias areas in Eastern Europe have less extensive precipitation. The precipitation distribution in REMO2020 is much more realistic, especially in terms of heavy precipitation extremes. Statistically, REMO2020 aligns better with long-term measurements than older versions. Mountainous areas still present a challenge in REMO2020, especially with higher vertical resolution. In this paper, we demonstrate why REMO2020 will be our new model version for future dynamical downscaling activities.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Oct 2025
REMO2020: a modernised modular regional climate model
Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Kevin Sieck, Lars Buntemeyer, Thomas Frisius, Christine Nam, Peter Hoffmann, Christina Pop, Diana Rechid, and Daniela Jacob
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 7907–7949, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7907-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7907-2025, 2025
Short summary
Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Kevin Sieck, Lars Buntemeyer, Thomas Frisius, Christine Nam, Peter Hoffmann, Christina Pop, Diana Rechid, and Daniela Jacob

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Useful and relevant paper on the most recent version of a widely used RCM, rather technical though', Sven Kotlarski, 25 May 2025
    • AC4: 'Reply on RC1', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 29 Jul 2025
  • CC1: 'Limitations of Regional Climate Models in Representing Precipitation: Implications for Model Use and Development', Gabriela Juárez, 03 Jun 2025
    • AC6: 'Reply on CC1', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 29 Jul 2025
  • CEC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1586 - No compliance with the policy of the journal', Juan Antonio Añel, 13 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on CEC1', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 16 Jun 2025
      • CEC2: 'Reply on AC1', Juan Antonio Añel, 16 Jun 2025
        • AC2: 'Reply on CEC2', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 17 Jun 2025
          • CEC3: 'Reply on AC2', Juan Antonio Añel, 17 Jun 2025
            • AC3: 'Reply on CEC3', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 17 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1586', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Jun 2025
    • AC5: 'Reply on RC2', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 29 Jul 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Useful and relevant paper on the most recent version of a widely used RCM, rather technical though', Sven Kotlarski, 25 May 2025
    • AC4: 'Reply on RC1', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 29 Jul 2025
  • CC1: 'Limitations of Regional Climate Models in Representing Precipitation: Implications for Model Use and Development', Gabriela Juárez, 03 Jun 2025
    • AC6: 'Reply on CC1', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 29 Jul 2025
  • CEC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1586 - No compliance with the policy of the journal', Juan Antonio Añel, 13 Jun 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on CEC1', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 16 Jun 2025
      • CEC2: 'Reply on AC1', Juan Antonio Añel, 16 Jun 2025
        • AC2: 'Reply on CEC2', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 17 Jun 2025
          • CEC3: 'Reply on AC2', Juan Antonio Añel, 17 Jun 2025
            • AC3: 'Reply on CEC3', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 17 Jun 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1586', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Jun 2025
    • AC5: 'Reply on RC2', Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, 29 Jul 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen on behalf of the Authors (29 Jul 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (29 Jul 2025) by Di Tian
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (13 Aug 2025)
ED: Publish as is (21 Aug 2025) by Di Tian
AR by Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen on behalf of the Authors (01 Sep 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Oct 2025
REMO2020: a modernised modular regional climate model
Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Kevin Sieck, Lars Buntemeyer, Thomas Frisius, Christine Nam, Peter Hoffmann, Christina Pop, Diana Rechid, and Daniela Jacob
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 7907–7949, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7907-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-7907-2025, 2025
Short summary
Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Kevin Sieck, Lars Buntemeyer, Thomas Frisius, Christine Nam, Peter Hoffmann, Christina Pop, Diana Rechid, and Daniela Jacob

Data sets

Modelling data for the manuscript "REMO2020: a modernized modular regional climate model" Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14848868

Interactive computing environment

Analysis scripts for the manuscipt "REMO2020: a modernized modular regional climate model" Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15129924

Joni-Pekka Pietikäinen, Kevin Sieck, Lars Buntemeyer, Thomas Frisius, Christine Nam, Peter Hoffmann, Christina Pop, Diana Rechid, and Daniela Jacob

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Short summary
This paper introduces REMO2020, a modernized version of the well-known and widely used REMO regional climate model. We demonstrate why REMO2020 will be our new model version for future dynamical downscaling activities. It outperforms our previous model version in many analyzed areas and is the biggest update to REMO so far. It also supports climate service needs based developments through new more modular structure.
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