Arctic Systems Modeling Workshop, Montreal July 2009

Atmospheric Breakout: Led by John Walsh, Notes by Scott Elliott

First list atmospheric issues mentioned in morning session:Response of atmosphere to ocean and terrestrial changeCloud modeling with chemistryRapid (abrupt) climate change

The breakout group adds among others:Connections to ice, river inflow via precip, carbon cycleConnections to land model components -vegetationBiomass burning, wildfiresAlbedo alterations for land, ocean, clouds, iceWinds and the Greenland ice sheet

Seasonality -winter inversion and particles, summer firesWet deposition does not work well in Arctic

Shifts in flow and fate/transport of pollutantsAsia plays in but also, increased ship traffic as ice recedes

Biogeochemistry currently playing catch-up in regional codes

Data lacking but field campaigns and satellite instruments coming

All aspects need to be coherent from regional to global scaleBut two way nesting to the big models very difficult

Domains and boundaries should be flexible for sensitivity tests

How to use results -compare quantities themselves or interrelationsLatter critical for systems modeling

How to improve measurements -distribute inexpensive experimentsAircraft, sondes, other

Centralize model output and validation?Consensus this is critical and CMIP, PCMDI both citedMake data accessible in an enforced format such as netcdf

Social aspects -visits and interactions including international

Don’t forget weather forecasting and basic meteorology

Systems models must wrap in impacts, human dimension, feedbacksPursue specific projects, such as HydroQuebec