Table 4: Selected Features of CMIP Atmospheric Models

Horizontal/vertical resolution of the atmospheric components of the CMIP coupled models, the AMIP atmospheric model with the most similar features, and the chief differences from this AMIP model. Links at the head of table columns connect to further explanations of symbols used in that column. Links in table cells connect to further information on the corresponding model.
 
CMIP Model Atmospheric Resolution Closest AMIP Atmospheric Model Chief Differences from AMIP Model
BMRC1 R21 (3.2 x 5.6) L9  BMRC BMRC2.3 (R31 L9) 1990 Reduced Horizontal Resolution, Convection
CCCma T32 (3.8 x 3.8) L10 CCC GCMII (T32 L10) 1990 None
CCSR T21 (5.6 x 5.6) L20  CCSR/NIES AGCM (T21 L20) 1995 None 
CERFACS1  T21 (5.6 x 5.6) L30 CNRM ARPEGE Cy11 (T42 L30) 1995 Reduced Horizontal Resolution
COLA 1 R15 (4.5 x 7.5) L9  COLA COLA1.1 (R40 L18) 1993 Reduced Horizontal/Vertical Resolution
COLA 2 T30 (4 x 4) L18 COLA COLA1.1 (R40 L18) 1993 Reduced Horizontal Resolution, Convection, Cloud Formation
CSIRO  R21 (3.2 x 5.6) L9  CSIRO CSIRO9 Mark1 (R21 L9) 1992 Horizontal Representation, Sea Ice, Land Surface Processes
ECHAM1+LSG  T21 (5.6 x 5.6) L19  MPI ECHAM3 (T42 L19) 1992  Reduced Horizontal Resolution, Gravity-wave Drag, Convection, Cloud Formation, Orography, Surface Fluxes
ECHAM3+LSG T21 (5.6 x 5.6) L19 MPI ECHAM3 (T42 L19) 1992  Reduced Horizontal Resolution
ECHAM4+OPYC3 T42 (2.8 x 2.8) L19  MPI ECHAM4 (T42 L19) 1996  None
ECHAM4+HOPE-G T30 (3.75 x 3.75) L19  MPI ECHAM4 (T42 L19) 1996  Reduced Horizontal Resolution
GFDL_R15_a R15 (4.5 x 7.5) L9  GFDL CDG1 (R30 L14) 1992 Reduced Horizontal/Vertical Resolution
GISS (Miller)  4.0 x 5.0 L9  GISS Model II Prime (4x5 L9) 1994 Horizontal Representation, Chemistry, Radiation, Land Surface Processes
GISS (Russell)  4.0 x 5.0 L9* GISS Model II Prime (4x5 L9) 1994 Horizontal Representation, Convection, Cloud Formation, Precipitation, Planetary Boundary Layer, Land Surface Processes
IAP/LASG1 R15 (4.5 x 7.5) L9 BMRC BMRC2.3 (R31 L9) 1990 Reduced Horizontal Resolution, Atmospheric Dynamics, Radiation, Cloud Formation, Land Surface Processes
LMD/IPSL1 1.6 x 3.8 L15  LMD LMD5 (3.6x5.6 L11) 1991 Enhanced Horizontal/Vertical Resolution, Radiation, Precipitation, Surface Characteristics, Surface Fluxes, Land Surface Processes
MRI1 4.0 x 5.0 L15 MRI GCM-II (4x5 L15) 1993 None
NCAR (CSM) T42 (2.8 x 2.8) L18 NCAR CCM2 (T42 L18) 1992 Radiation, Convection, Surface Fluxes, Land Surface Processes
NRL1 T47 (2.5 x 2.5) L18  NRL NOGAPS3.2 (T47 L18) 1993 None
UKMO (HadCM2) 2.5 x 3.75 L19  UKMO HadAM1 (2.5x3.75 L19) 1993 Chemistry, Convection, Cloud Formation, Surface Characteristics

Atmospheric Resolution: Horizontal and vertical resolution.  The former is expressed either as degrees latitude x longitude or as a spectral truncation with a rough translation to degrees latitude x longitude. ("Tnn" or "Rnn" signifies spectral triangular or rhomboidal truncation at wavenumber nn for dynamical variables, with calculation of physics by transformation to a Gaussian grid that is unequally spaced in latitude.)  Vertical resolution is expressed as "Lmm", where mm is the number of vertical levels. The presence of a * indicates that three directional derivatives for heat and water vapor are calculated in each grid box, effectively enhancing the resolution.

Closest AMIP Atmospheric Model: Hypertext documentation of some 45 AMIP models is accessible from the World Wide Web at address http://www-pcmdi.llnl.gov/projects/modeldoc/amip/ . The conventional designation of an AMIP model is:

Modeling Center Model/Version Name (Horizontal Resolution Vertical Resolution) Year of Model/Version
 
 

















Return to CMIP Model Documentation Directory

Return to CMIP Home Page
 

Last update 2 December, 2004. For further information about CMIP model documentation, contact Tom Phillips (phillips14@llnl.gov). For further information about CMIP model data, contact Curt Covey (covey@pcmdi.llnl.gov).
 

LLNL Disclaimers
UCRL-MI-127713