Improving model representation of turbulent atmospheric processes call

Questions and answers

1. I’ve got an instrumental capability that could contribute to a larger campaign. How do I go about joining up with others?

Please send your enquiry to [email protected] and this will be forwarded to the WesCon team at the Met Office, who will put you in touch with other groups that it might complement.

2. How many flight hours for the FAAM Aircraft do the Met Office have available for the WesCon campaign?

Up to 80 hours in 5 hour flights.

3. I’ve got an analytical capability that could contribute to the programme, how should I proceed?

Please send your enquiry to [email protected] and this will be forwarded to the Met Office scientists, who will be able to discuss further, and possibly connect to other groups to submit as part of a larger project.

4. To what degree should proposals for the observational component include a modelling component?

We do expect some evaluation of existing model configurations compared with observations to take place within proposals for the observational component. This is to ensure that the data collected is designed to be both relevant and adequately processed for useful analysis.

What is not in scope for this component is a work package on model development itself, and applications for this should be in a separate part of the call.

Observational proposals should aim to provide resource to prepare output to a standard that it could provide useful insights and reference to inform new scheme development, however.

Once the full programme outcomes are known, there will be an integration exercise to ensure all groups benefit from each other’s activities.

5. During the timeline of the programme, the Met Office are intending to undergo a transition from the Unified Model towards LFRic. However, the call only speaks about the Unified Model. Can it be clarified to what degree LFRic might be in scope for the call?

Where proposed developments depend on the characteristics of the dynamics, it is in scope for proposals to take the move to LFRic into account, and evaluation within the LFRic framework may be desirable. However proposals need to be aware of the early stages of development of LFRic for shared use, and so full modelling and evaluation capability may not be available until later in the programme.

6. Does the Met Office envisage producing a unified scheme for turbulence and convection from 10km to 100m grid lengths?

Part of the Met Office Research and Innovation strategy is to have a seamless approach to modelling across scales. A unified approach to the physics spanning this range is therefore in scope.

7. What are the Met Office plans for CoMorph?

CoMorph is a mass-flux convection scheme, currently implemented for use in global models. The Met Office envisages extending CoMorph to operate as a scale-aware mass-flux scheme, including stochastic variability, and the ability to decrease activity as convection becomes resolvable. The plume vertical velocity will also be represented. The range of scales of applicability of this modified scheme will need to be tested, and how this should connect to turbulence representations remains an open question and will form part of this programme.

8. What developments are in scope for the boundary layer representation?

Development of a concept for, or research towards, a new turbulence scheme that is better suited to smaller grid-scales with suitable blending with the existing global-model scheme, or one that is scale-aware across the full range of model resolutions is in scope. Replacement of the existing boundary layer scheme would eventually need to demonstrate improvements across a wide range of metrics.

9. What if I have a question not answered here or a follow up question?

Please continue to send any further questions to [email protected]. Questions will continue to be answered on an individual basis and anything which may be of general interest will be added to this page.

 

Feature image credit: Paul Barrett, OBR, Met Office