CESM1.2: Coupler, version 7
Introduction
The CESM coupled model is based on a framework which divides the
complete climate system into component models that are connected by a
coupler component. The coupler controls the execution and time
evolution of the complete system by synchronizing and controlling the
flow of data between the various components. It also communicates
interfacial states and fluxes between the various component models
while ensuring the conservation of fluxed quantities.
The CESM1.2 system (like the CESM1.0 system) is a single executable where the coupler main program coordinates the interaction and time evolution of the component models, and component models appear as subroutines with standard init, run, and finalize methods. The coupler also has new functionality to arrange that component models run sequentially, concurrently, or in some mixed sequential/concurrent layout. Because it contains this type of control functionality, the main program is also called the driver. The coupler also has functionality to carry out flux calculations, mapping (regridding), diagnostics, and other calculations -- this type of functionality can be run on a subset of the total processors. The name cpl7 refers to the driver functionality as well as this other type of functionality.