WCRP CORDEX:
Arctic, Antarctic, North America
Arctic Cordex
POC: John Cassano and Annette Rinke
Circum-Arctic domain
Group
horiz. resol. of 0.44°
(ca. 50 km x 50 km)
Who (plan to) participate in simulations and/or analysis
Participating institute
Model name
SMHI (Sweden); Königk, Samuelsen
RCA4, RCAO
CCCma (Canada); Scinocca
CanRCM4
AWI (Germany); Rinke, Matthes
HIRHAM5
CU (USA); Cassano et al.
WRF, RASM
ISU (USA); Gutowski, Glisan
WRF
DMI (Denmark); Mottram, Christensen
HIRHAM5
EMUT (Germany); Heinemann
CCLM
MGO (Russia); Shkolnik, Efimov
RRCM
Bjerkness Centre (Norway); Sobolowski WRF
ULg (Belgium); Fettweis
MAR
JPL (USA); Waliser et al.
Activities
 Simulations started and are ongoing:
Model evaluation
- hindcast (ERA-Interim & GCM-driven historical simulations) – 4 models finished ERA-I
Regional projections
- scenario (GCM-driven rcp8.5 simulations 2006-2100) – ca. 7 models are expected in 2014
 Evaluation of the ERA-driven runs:
extremes, trends, systematic model errors; data uncertainty; benchmark metrics
 1st workshop on Nov. 8 during Brussels meeting to exchange, foster and coordinate further
simulations and analysis
 Polar Cordex website and mailing list (hosted by CliC)
Future directions
 Better RCM-GCM matrix for multi-simulation studies (e.g. on extremes, precip., snow, GIS
SMB,…)
 Process understanding (ABL, cyclones, clouds, marginal ice zone, polynyas)
 Higher resolution (0.2°) atmospheric simulations – some already done
 Coupled atmosphere-ice-ocean RCMs – some models are (more or less) ready
 2nd meeting during upcoming Lund RCM conference (June 2014);
RCMES (Regional Climate Model Evaluation System) training session (by JPL)
 Communication of Arctic regional climate information
(Arctic CORDEX workshop, tied to AMAP's Climate Expert Group and their activities;
pilot study for selected sector over selected sub-region; Future Earth’s call for proposals
for Fast Track Initiative proposal)
Antarctic Cordex
POC: John Cassano and Annette Rinke
 2 groups have run Antarctic CORDEX simulations (ca. 50 km resol.)
KNMI (Netherlands; van Meijgaard; RACMO) and NMT (USA; Reusch; WRF)
 4 other groups (France, Gallee, MAR; USA, Bromwich, PolarWRF; Denmark,
Mottram, HIRHAM5; Belgium, Van Lipzig, CCLM) may plan to participate
 others (e.g., Gorodetskaya) are interested in terms of process-based model evaluation
WCRP CORDEX: Updates
~ North America ~
POC:
Linda Mearns – NCAR
Anne Frigon – OURANOS
William Gutowski – Iowa State Univ.
CORDEX North America
Organizing Executive Committee
W. J. Gutowski, Jr. – Iowa State Univ. (Co-Chair)
Linda Mearns – NCAR (Co-Chair)
Lawrence Buja – NCAR
Dennis Lettenmaier – Univ. WA
Ruby Leung – PNNL
Gregg Garfin – Univ. AZ
PROPOSING A PROGRAM TO U.S. FEDERAL SOURCES:
1. Two-page description, given to many agencies
2. Prospectus for planning workshop, to DOE
3. Draft extended outline of possible program
4. Many meetings with various federal, US GCRP and US CLIVAR officials
5. Many teleconferences
Currently thinking “small science” and coordination
1. Web page almost ready for release: https://www2.image.ucar.edu/na_cordex
(a) Simulations done by others and POC,s, e.g.: 2 Canadian groups, Ph. LucasPicher using Alladin, UKMO, SMHI, Ray Arritt, Chris Castro.
(b) Domains
(c) 2-pager
(d) Workshop prospectus
(e) Linda’s AGU presentation
2. Potential NASA interest
3. Side note: How to overcome resistance in key areas? (e.g., Annarita Mariotti,
Renu Joseph)