This dataset comprises output from global atmospheric simulations performed with the Model for Prediction Across Scales - Atmosphere (MPAS-A) as part of the DYnamics of the Atmospheric general circulation Modeled On Non-hydrostatic Domains as part of the DYnamics of the Atmospheric general circulation Modeled On Non-hydrostatic Domains (DYAMOND) intercomparison project (Phase 1). Simulations were conducted over the 40-day period 1st of August to 10th of September 2016, at horizontal mesh spacings ranging from 480 km to 3.75 km. The dataset includes a suite of sensitivity experiments designed to isolate the effects of convective parameterization and changes to the microphysics. Output consists of two-dimensional diagnostic fields (15 minutes frequency) and three-dimensional history files (3-hourly frequency) on MPAS unstructured Voronoi meshes. The data support research into global convective organization, tropical cyclone activity, precipitation, and the sensitivity of numerical models to physical parameterization choices.
Background and Objectives: DYAMOND (Stevens et al. 2019, PGMFD) is a community intercomparison framework for global storm-resolving models (GSRMs) that explicitly represent deep convection without convective parameterization at kilometer-scale grid spacings. This dataset supports analysis of MPAS-A across a broad range of resolutions and physics configurations, enabling study of resolution dependence and parameterization sensitivity in a global convection-permitting context.
Model and Simulations: MPAS-A was configured with the "convection_permitting" physics suite: Thompson microphysics, MYNN boundary layer and surface layer, Noah land surface model, RRTMG radiation, and scale-aware version of the Tiedtke cumulus parameterization. Simulations were initialized on 1 August 2016 from ECMWF analyses with observed SSTs updated throughout the integration. Variables use standard MPAS names, which can be referenced here [https://www2.mmm.ucar.edu/projects/mpas/site/documentation/users_guide/appD_fields.html].
