The objective of this research is to estimate the numerical convergence rate of three key climate elements of hydrological and energy cycles, and to thereby quantify the error of numerical approximations at different resolutions. The three elements are: i)vertical fluxes of water vapor between the atmosphere and ocean, ii) horizontal fluxes of water vapor in boundary layer jets, and iii) sensitivity of fractional cloud cover to model resolution. The methodology will be to use a telescoping, variable resolution global model that is capable of locally resolving far more structure than are other uniform resolution climate models. The vertical boundary layer resolution will be selectively enhanced to study item (i) and the horizontal resolution will be locally enhanced to explicitly resolve mesoscale structures to study items (ii) and (iii). The study is important because it seeks to better understand water vapor transports between the oceans and atmosphere, a key component of the global water cycle. This research is supported partially by the Global Change Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX).

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS)
Application #
9119433
Program Officer
Jay S. Fein
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1996-09-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
$186,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112