Evaluation of Implicit-Explicit Additive Runge-Kutta Integrators for the HOMME-NH Dynamical Core

Abstract

The nonhydrostatic High-Order Method Modeling Environment (HOMME-NH) atmospheric dynamical core supports acoustic waves that propagate significantly faster than the advective wind speed, thus greatly limiting the time step size that can be used with standard explicit time integration methods. Resolving acoustic waves is unnecessary for accurate climate and weather prediction. This numerical stiffness is addressed herein by considering implicit-explicit additive Runge-Kutta (ARK IMEX) methods that can treat the acoustic waves in a stable manner without requiring implicit treatment of nonstiff modes. Various ARK IMEX methods are evaluated for their efficiency in producing accurate solutions, ability to take large time step sizes, and sensitivity to grid cell length ratio. Both the gravity wave test and baroclinic instability test from the 2012 Dynamical Core Model Intercomparison Project are used to recommend 5 of the 27 ARK IMEX methods tested for use in HOMME-NH.