The NCAR Earth System Model

Overview

Teaching: min
Exercises: min

Questions

• What is CESM?

• How does it differ from other Earth system models?

• Why do we use CESM in this class?

Objectives

• Learn about CESM

A couple of weeks ago you learned about the various Earth system models being used by the research and operational communities. Today we will learn about the NCAR/Community Earth System Model.

NCAR/Community Earth System Model (CESM)

• Designed for community use – easy to use for research
• Large community of people working with CESM – Organized in working groups that are open to all (http://www.cesm.ucar.edu/working_groups/)
• Easy to get help, lots of documentation: (http://www.cesm.ucar.edu/)
• CESM has different (and more) Earth system components
• Many components can be combined together in endless combinations
• Easy to change configuration (e.g. output frequency, grid).
• Primary mission is climate oriented
• Many existing climate simulations and now hindcasts (CMIP, large ensemble, decadal prediction, S2S prediction)
• More recently starting to be used for prediction/predictability purposes (e.g. new Earth System Prediction Working Group).
• Lots of people in AOES work with this model.

Key Points