High-resolution multi-decadal simulation of tropical cyclones

Abstract

Recent advances in high-performance computing technologies are enabling multiple climate modeling groups to perform global multi-decadal simulations at tropical cyclone-permitting resolutions. This chapter discusses the developing state of the art of such high-resolution modeling. These global atmospheric models, with horizontal resolutions in the 10-50 km range, simulate strong gradients in temperature and moisture far more realistically than contemporary mainstream climate models at coarser resolution. With these models, simulated tropical cyclones exhibit a surprising degree of realism in terms of both the physical characteristics of individual storms and their long-term statistical behavior. Experience with the Community Atmospheric Model version 5 is used as an example to demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of this new class of climate models.