Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)

<p>The University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model (UVic ESCM) of intermediate complexity has been a useful tool in recent assessments of long-term climate changes, including both paleo-climate modelling and uncertainty assessments of future warming. Since the last official release of th...

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Main Authors: N. Mengis, D. P. Keller, A. H. MacDougall, M. Eby, N. Wright, K. J. Meissner, A. Oschlies, A. Schmittner, A. J. MacIsaac, H. D. Matthews, K. Zickfeld
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-09-01
Series:Geoscientific Model Development
Online Access:https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/4183/2020/gmd-13-4183-2020.pdf
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spelling doaj-b70124dea6a940d281ac5de9f41ffc8b2020-11-25T01:49:53ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032020-09-01134183420410.5194/gmd-13-4183-2020Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)N. Mengis0N. Mengis1D. P. Keller2A. H. MacDougall3M. Eby4N. Wright5K. J. Meissner6K. J. Meissner7A. Oschlies8A. Schmittner9A. J. MacIsaac10A. J. MacIsaac11H. D. Matthews12K. Zickfeld13Biogeochemical Modelling Department, GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, GermanyDepartment of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, CanadaBiogeochemical Modelling Department, GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, GermanyClimate and Environment, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, CanadaSchool of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, CanadaDepartment of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, CanadaClimate Change Research Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaBiogeochemical Modelling Department, GEOMAR – Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, GermanyCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USADepartment of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, CanadaConcordia University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaConcordia University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaDepartment of Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada<p>The University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model (UVic ESCM) of intermediate complexity has been a useful tool in recent assessments of long-term climate changes, including both paleo-climate modelling and uncertainty assessments of future warming. Since the last official release of the UVic ESCM 2.9 and the two official updates during the last decade, considerable model development has taken place among multiple research groups. The new version 2.10 of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model presented here will be part of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). More precisely it will be used in the intercomparison of Earth system models of intermediate complexity (EMIC), such as the C4MIP, the Carbon Dioxide Removal and Zero Emissions Commitment model intercomparison projects (CDR-MIP and ZECMIP, respectively). It now brings together and combines multiple model developments and new components that have come about since the last official release of the model. The main additions to the base model are (i) an improved biogeochemistry module for the ocean, (ii) a vertically resolved soil model including dynamic hydrology and soil carbon processes, and (iii) a representation of permafrost carbon. To set the foundation of its use, we here describe the UVic ESCM 2.10 and evaluate results from transient historical simulations against observational data. We find that the UVic ESCM 2.10 is capable of reproducing changes in historical temperature and carbon fluxes well. The spatial distribution of many ocean tracers, including temperature, salinity, phosphate and nitrate, also agree well with observed tracer profiles. The good performance in the ocean tracers is connected to an improved representation of ocean physical properties. For the moment, the main biases that remain are a vegetation carbon density that is too high in the tropics, a higher than observed change in the ocean heat content (OHC) and an oxygen utilization in the Southern Ocean that is too low. All of these biases will be addressed in the next updates to the model.</p>https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/4183/2020/gmd-13-4183-2020.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author N. Mengis
N. Mengis
D. P. Keller
A. H. MacDougall
M. Eby
N. Wright
K. J. Meissner
K. J. Meissner
A. Oschlies
A. Schmittner
A. J. MacIsaac
A. J. MacIsaac
H. D. Matthews
K. Zickfeld
spellingShingle N. Mengis
N. Mengis
D. P. Keller
A. H. MacDougall
M. Eby
N. Wright
K. J. Meissner
K. J. Meissner
A. Oschlies
A. Schmittner
A. J. MacIsaac
A. J. MacIsaac
H. D. Matthews
K. Zickfeld
Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)
Geoscientific Model Development
author_facet N. Mengis
N. Mengis
D. P. Keller
A. H. MacDougall
M. Eby
N. Wright
K. J. Meissner
K. J. Meissner
A. Oschlies
A. Schmittner
A. J. MacIsaac
A. J. MacIsaac
H. D. Matthews
K. Zickfeld
author_sort N. Mengis
title Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)
title_short Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)
title_full Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)
title_fullStr Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model version 2.10 (UVic ESCM 2.10)
title_sort evaluation of the university of victoria earth system climate model version 2.10 (uvic escm 2.10)
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Geoscientific Model Development
issn 1991-959X
1991-9603
publishDate 2020-09-01
description <p>The University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model (UVic ESCM) of intermediate complexity has been a useful tool in recent assessments of long-term climate changes, including both paleo-climate modelling and uncertainty assessments of future warming. Since the last official release of the UVic ESCM 2.9 and the two official updates during the last decade, considerable model development has taken place among multiple research groups. The new version 2.10 of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model presented here will be part of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). More precisely it will be used in the intercomparison of Earth system models of intermediate complexity (EMIC), such as the C4MIP, the Carbon Dioxide Removal and Zero Emissions Commitment model intercomparison projects (CDR-MIP and ZECMIP, respectively). It now brings together and combines multiple model developments and new components that have come about since the last official release of the model. The main additions to the base model are (i) an improved biogeochemistry module for the ocean, (ii) a vertically resolved soil model including dynamic hydrology and soil carbon processes, and (iii) a representation of permafrost carbon. To set the foundation of its use, we here describe the UVic ESCM 2.10 and evaluate results from transient historical simulations against observational data. We find that the UVic ESCM 2.10 is capable of reproducing changes in historical temperature and carbon fluxes well. The spatial distribution of many ocean tracers, including temperature, salinity, phosphate and nitrate, also agree well with observed tracer profiles. The good performance in the ocean tracers is connected to an improved representation of ocean physical properties. For the moment, the main biases that remain are a vegetation carbon density that is too high in the tropics, a higher than observed change in the ocean heat content (OHC) and an oxygen utilization in the Southern Ocean that is too low. All of these biases will be addressed in the next updates to the model.</p>
url https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/13/4183/2020/gmd-13-4183-2020.pdf
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