The ICTP RegCM System andThe ICTP RegCM System andAerosol ModelingAerosol Modeling

F. Giorgi, F. Solmon, A. ZakeyF. Giorgi, F. Solmon, A. ZakeyICTP, Trieste, ItalyICTP, Trieste, ItalyContributions fromContributions from

A. Shalaby, A. Konare, A. Shalaby, A. Konare,

Goldschmidt 2009 Conference, Davos, Switzerland, 22-26 June 2009 Goldschmidt 2009 Conference, Davos, Switzerland, 22-26 June 2009

Flexible, user-friendlymodeling system

Adaptable to any regionof the World

Used by a wide scientific community

Used for a wide rangeof applications

Coupled atmosphere –ocean version

Capability of interactivevegetation (CLM, IBIS)

Capability of interactiveaerosol/chemistry

The ICTP Regional Climate ModelThe ICTP Regional Climate Model

RegCM4RegCM4

Sample of RegCM domains usedSample of RegCM domains used

ΔX=10-120 KM

Tracer model / RegCM3

lpdepcumwlswCUMVH QQDRRSTFFVt ,,

Transport Removal terms

Primary Emissions

Physico – chemical transformations

Strongly dependent on the nature of the tracer

General approach

Particles and chemical species considered (12 tracers).

0.01-1

μm

1-2.5

μm

2.5-5

μm

5-20

μm

Hydrophobic(50%at

emission)

Hydrophilic(50%at

emission)

Hydrophobic(80%at

emission)

Hydrophilic(20% at

emission)

Aqueous and gazeousconversion

(Qian et al., 2001)

DUST (4 bins)OC (total organic carbon)BC (soot)SO4--SO2

0.01-1

μm

1-2.5

μm

2.5-5

μm

5-20

μm

Hydrophobic(50%at

emission)

Hydrophilic(50%at

emission)

Hydrophobic(80%at

emission)

Hydrophilic(20% at

emission)

Aqueous and gazeousconversion

(Qian et al., 2001)

DUST (4 bins)OC (total organic carbon)BC (soot)SO4--SO2

Sea-Salt

(2 bins)

0.05-1

µm

1.0-10

µm

““Simple” Aerosols in RegCM4Simple” Aerosols in RegCM4

Qian and Giorgi 1999; Qian et al. 2001; Solmon et al. 2006; Zakey et al. 2006; 2008 Qian and Giorgi 1999; Qian et al. 2001; Solmon et al. 2006; Zakey et al. 2006; 2008

Climate-aerosol model couplingClimate-aerosol model coupling

RegionalRegionalClimate ModelClimate Model

RadiativeRadiativeTransfer PackageTransfer Package

SW and LWSW and LW

Aerosol ModelAerosol ModelSource, Transport,Source, Transport,

RemovalRemoval

Radia

tive F

luxes

Heati

ng R

ate

Aerosol RadiativeForcing

Clo

uds,

Tem

pera

ture

,W

ate

r V

apor

Winds, PBL Processes

Clouds, Precipitation

Aeros

ol

Conce

ntra

tion

Simple indirectSimple indirecteffect schemeeffect scheme

Rc = f(Rc = f(χχ))

Aerosol

Concentration

CloudReflectivity

Semi-directSemi-directeffectseffects

• During the last decades East Asia has been one of the During the last decades East Asia has been one of the most rapidly developing regions of the worldmost rapidly developing regions of the world

• As a result, anthropogenic aerosol emissions over the As a result, anthropogenic aerosol emissions over the region have considerably increased, thereby (possibly) region have considerably increased, thereby (possibly) affecting the climate of the region affecting the climate of the region

• A series of studies investigated the possible regional A series of studies investigated the possible regional climatic effects of anthropogenic aerosols over East Asiaclimatic effects of anthropogenic aerosols over East Asia– Qian and Giorgi (1999,2000), Qian et al. (2001, 2003), Chameides et al. Qian and Giorgi (1999,2000), Qian et al. (2001, 2003), Chameides et al.

(1999,2002),Streets and Waldhoff (2000),Kaiser and Qian (2002),Giorgi (1999,2002),Streets and Waldhoff (2000),Kaiser and Qian (2002),Giorgi et al. (2002,2003)et al. (2002,2003)

Example IExample IEast AsiaEast Asia

Aerosol extinction coefficient Aerosol extinction coefficient averaged for 1981-1998averaged for 1981-1998Kaiser and Qian (2002)Kaiser and Qian (2002)

Change of observed mean Change of observed mean temperature (temperature (ooC) in ChinaC) in China

Qian and Giorgi (2000)Qian and Giorgi (2000)

SO2SO2 Burden, DJF, CONT Burden, DJF, CONT SO4SO4 Burden, DJF, CONT Burden, DJF, CONT

SO4 SO4 Burden, JJA, CONTBurden, JJA, CONTSO2SO2 Burden, JJA, CONT Burden, JJA, CONT

TemperatureTemperature, DJF, IND1-CONT, DJF, IND1-CONT

TemperatureTemperature, JJA, IND1-CONT, JJA, IND1-CONT

TemperatureTemperature, MAM, IND1-CONT, MAM, IND1-CONT

TemperatureTemperature, SON, IND1-CONT, SON, IND1-CONT

Example II: Effect of dust on Example II: Effect of dust on the African monsoonthe African monsoon

Solmon et al. 2006Solmon et al. 2006Zakey et al. 2006Zakey et al. 2006Konare et al 2008Konare et al 2008Solmon et al. 2008Solmon et al. 2008

SeaWIFS (NGSFC)TOMS (aerosol index)

RegCM

(0.1-10 µm dust burden)

Zakey et al, 2006

Case study: Dust storm of 20-28 February 2000Case study: Dust storm of 20-28 February 2000

RegCM AOD

MISR AOD

JJA

(2000-2006)

RegCM

Lidar

M’Bour

Validation in “climate” modeValidation in “climate” mode

Konaré et al., 2008; Solmon et al., 2008

PrecipitationDust - nodust

Precipitation, CRU(1961-1990) – (1901-1980)

The dust forcing can strengthen the The dust forcing can strengthen the occurrence of drought in the Sahel occurrence of drought in the Sahel

Land surface sub-grid scale model in RegCM4 (Giorgi et al. 2003)

• Define a regular fine scale sub-grid for each coarse scale model grid-box.– Landuse, topography, and soil are

characterized on the fine grid.• Disaggregate climatic fields from the

coarse grid to the fine grid (e.g. temperature, precipitation).– Disaggregation technique based on the

elevation differences between the coarse grid and the fine grid.

• Perform BATS surface physics computations on the fine grid.

• Reaggregate the surface fields from the fine grid to the coarse grid.

60-km

Mean Landuse and Elevation

PQT ,,

PQT ,,

Numerical Experiments

10-km10-km

15-km15-km

60-km60-km

• Simulation period:

1 Oct 1994 to 1 Sept 1995• Land Surface computations

performed on subgrid.– CTL

• 60-km; no subgrid cells

– EXP15• 15-km; 16 subgrid cells

– EXP10• 10-km; 36 subgrid cells

Results: Temperature

WINTER (DJF)

OBS (CRU) CTL

SUMMER (JJA)

OBS (CRU) CTL

EXP15 EXP10

EXP15 EXP10

Results: Snow

WINTER (DJF)

CTL

SPRING (MAM)

CTL

EXP15 EXP10

EXP15 EXP10

Station OBS

Station OBS

Domain envisioned for PAPRIKA Domain envisioned for PAPRIKA

CORDEX DomainDx = 50 km

PAPRIKA Nested DomainDx = 15-20 km

Sub-Grid Scheme, Dx=2-3 km

Key questions from the regional modeling side

• What model development is needed? – Coupling with a “snow/glacier” module– Use simple parameterizations of snow albedo as a

function of BC and Dust– Disaggregation of precipitation and temperature

• What data can be used for model validation?– Atmospheric data– Other data?

• What simulations will be performed?– RCM domain/resolution?– GCM(s)?– Scenarios?– Time slices?

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

m.s-1

mm/day15

Mean circulation at 865 hpa

( NODUST, JJA 1996-2006)Differential circulation at 865 hpa m.s-1

mm/day

( DUST -NODUST, JJA 1996-2006)

Konaré et al., 2008; Solmon et al., 2008

Dynamical and precipitationDynamical and precipitation response to dust forcingresponse to dust forcing

2 : ‘Elevated heat pump’ effect ( Lau et al., 2009)

1: Weakening of the ‘monsoon pump’

Solmon et al., 2008

Dust heating rate

Cloud water, meridional circulation and precipitation differenceCloud water, meridional circulation and precipitation differenceDust – Nodust, 15W-15E AverageDust – Nodust, 15W-15E Average

ICTP Regional Climate Model

RegCM4• Dynamics:

MM5 Hydrostatic (Giorgi et al. 1993a,b)

• Radiation:CCM3 (Kiehl 1996)

• Large-Scale Clouds & Precipitaion:SUBEX (Pal et al 2000)

• Cumulus convection:Grell (1993)Anthes-Kuo (1977)MIT (Emanuel 1991)

• Boundary Layer:Non-local, Holtslag (1990)

• Aerosols:SO4, OC, BC (Solmon et al 2005)Dust (Zakey et al 2006)Sea salt (Zakey et al. 2009)

• Gas phase chemistry:Shalaby et al. 2010

• Land Surface:BATS (Dickinson et al 1993)SUB-BATS (Giorgi et al 2003)CLM (Steiner et al 2009)

• Tropical Band• Coupled Lake (Host. Et al. 1994)

• Coupled OceanMIT (Artale et al. 2010)ROMS (Ratnam et al. 2009)

The RegCM regional climate model systemParticipation to intercomparison projects

• PIRCS (US, ISU)• NARCCAP (US, UCSC)• PRUDENCE (Europe, ICTP)• ENSEMBLES (Europe, ICTP)• CECILIA (Central Europe, Central-Eastern

European partners)• AMMA (West Africa, ICTP, African partners)• CLARIS (South America, U. Sao Paulo)• RMIP (East Asia, CMA)• CORDEX (Multiple domains, RegCNET)

Countries where RegCM is used

1010

2020

3030

4040

5050

9090 94949292 9696 9898 0000 0202 0404 0606 0808 1010

Number of papers using RegCM(from the ISI)