DCMIP2016: the splitting supercell test case

This paper describes the splitting supercell idealized test case used in the 2016 Dynamical Core Model Intercomparison Project (DCMIP2016). These storms are useful test beds for global atmospheric models because the horizontal scale of convective plumes is O(1 km), emphasizing non-hydrostatic dynamics. The test case simulates a supercell on a reduced-radius sphere with nominal resolutions ranging from 4 to 0.5 km and is based on the work of Klemp et al. (2015). Models are initialized with an atmospheric environment conducive to supercell formation and forced with a small thermal perturbation. A simplified Kessler microphysics scheme is coupled to the dynamical core to represent moist processes. Reference solutions for DCMIP2016 models are presented. Storm evolution is broadly similar between models, although differences in the final solution exist. These differences are hypothesized to result from different numerical discretizations, physics-dynamics coupling, and numerical diffusion. Intramodel solutions generally converge as models approach 0.5 km resolution, although exploratory simulations at 0.25 km imply some dynamical cores require more refinement to fully converge. These results can be used as a reference for future dynamical core evaluation, particularly with the development of non-hydrostatic global models intended to be used in convective-permitting regimes.

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Author Zarzycki, Colin M.
Jablonowski, Christiane
Kent, James
Lauritzen, Peter H.
Nair, Ramachandran D.
Reed, Kevin A.
Ullrich, Paul A.
Hall, David M.
Taylor, Mark A.
Dazlich, Don
Heikes, Ross
Konor, Celal
Randall, David
Chen, Xi
Harris, Lucas
Giorgetta, Marco
Reinert, Daniel
Kühnlein, Christian
Walko, Robert
Lee, Vivian
Qaddouri, Abdessamad
Tanguay, Monique
Miura, Hiroaki
Ohno, Tomoki
Yoshida, Ryuji
Park, Sang-Hun
Klemp, Joseph B.
Skamarock, William C.
Publisher UCAR/NCAR - Library
Publication Date 2019-03-05T00:00:00
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) Not Assigned
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Topic Category geoscientificInformation
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Metadata Date 2023-08-18T19:22:43.556468
Metadata Record Identifier edu.ucar.opensky::articles:22356
Metadata Language eng; USA
Suggested Citation Zarzycki, Colin M., Jablonowski, Christiane, Kent, James, Lauritzen, Peter H., Nair, Ramachandran D., Reed, Kevin A., Ullrich, Paul A., Hall, David M., Taylor, Mark A., Dazlich, Don, Heikes, Ross, Konor, Celal, Randall, David, Chen, Xi, Harris, Lucas, Giorgetta, Marco, Reinert, Daniel, Kühnlein, Christian, Walko, Robert, Lee, Vivian, Qaddouri, Abdessamad, Tanguay, Monique, Miura, Hiroaki, Ohno, Tomoki, Yoshida, Ryuji, Park, Sang-Hun, Klemp, Joseph B., Skamarock, William C.. (2019). DCMIP2016: the splitting supercell test case. UCAR/NCAR - Library. http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7028vm8. Accessed 22 June 2025.

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