GEMCLIM input files

GEMCLIM reads several input files.

Apart from the config files 'configexp.dot.cfg', 'gemclim_settings.nml', and 'outcfg.out' there are:


Geophysical fields

The geophysical fields should always match your grid!

Although the model can always interpolate, it is highly recommended to create the geophysical fields from a high resolution database using one the following tools: 'Genesis', 'Gengeo' or 'GenPhysX'.

Unfortunately none of them are installed outside of CMC/RPN. So if you need geophysical fields for a certain grid and do not have access to the machines from Environment Canada in Dorval, send the grid specifications (namelist 'grid' in your 'gemclim_settings.nml') to Katja.Winger@ec.gc.ca.

The fields contained in this file are fields of quantities including:

For more information on the geophysical fields in this file, please check here (courtesy of Ayrton Zadra).

Analysis or initial condition file

The analysis or initial condition file contains all fields needed to initialize soil and atmospheric variables in your run. The fields in this file do not need to match your grid (though they need to cover the whole area). But they need to match your start date.

Check the following links to learn more about the fields of an analysis file and how to create an analysis file.

SST and Sea Ice boundary conditions

The SST and Sea Ice boundary conditions we provide are the 1° monthly BC's from AMIP2.

These data are derived from the observational data set. The primary difference between the boundary condition data set and the observational data set is that adjustments have been made to insure that when daily values are linearly interpolated between the monthly  values contained in the data set (i.e., when used as boundary conditions in GEMCLIM), the monthly average of the observations is preserved.

Although this file is an RPN standard file, it is a little special:
The field descriptor 'ip2' does contain the month and the field descriptor 'ip3' the year for which a record is valid.

*** Never modify this file with 'r.diag' ***
as 'r.diag' changes the values
of the 'ip'-fields.

Climatology file

This file contains the monthly climatologies for fields like:
In general, the model and entry first have a look into one of the three files above. But if a field cannot be found in any of them, model/entry looks for it (for certain fields only) in the climatology file.

Usually we only read the surface albedo to initialize the run and the deep soil temperature on the 15th of each month.

Although this file is an RPN standard file, it is a little special: The field descriptor 'ip2' contains the month.

And again, *** Never modify this file with 'r.diag' *** as 'r.diag' changes the values of the 'ip'-fields.

Ozone file

The default ozone climatology file read by GEMCLIM is the ozone climatology proposed in the AMIP2 experimental protocol. It contains data on 61 latitudes and 59 levels.

Note:
If another ozone file is to be used, the physics routine 'litozon2.ftn' and the 'ozopnt.cdk' comdeck need to be changed accordingly!





Author: Katja Winger
Last update: June 2008