Notes from CCSM Forum
9th Annual CCSM Workshop
8 July 2004, Eldorado Hotel
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Bill Collins opened the forum by soliciting questions.

1.Steve Ghan: Has CCSM considered developing an adjoint model?
No, because it is very expensive and the model will continue to change. Components models could possibly be developed as an adjoint.

2.Don Anderson: What is the schedule for the finite-volume modeling?
There is no planned schedule, but work is continuing on the FV CCSM.

3.Ed Sarachik: What are the plans to correct the annual cycle in the tropics and the tropical forcing?
An assessment of the system needs to be done and a short list of key deficiencies identified.

Large stated that the correction of the annual cycle and tropical forcing is not a project in the CSL allocation proposal. He stated that we should develop a strategy.

Donner stated that the AMWG discussed new developments that will evaluate the transient aspects more than has been done in the past.

Kiehl stated that we should spend a tremendous amount of time to eliminate the biases in the fully coupled system (not in the component models). He said the biases set up quickly, such as the double ITCZ that sets up in one year, and will require many short runs. He hopes that some CSL resources can be directed to this and that some progress on the biases are made before the next IPCC. He also suggested that we develop a strategy.

Collins stated that diagnostics need to be developed for the coupled system, and Donner agreed that diagnostics are necessary because the biases are subtle.

Fein said that any strategy for elimination of biases should include community efforts, so that the community’s potential can be tapped.

Saravanan stated that El Nino happens every 4 years, and he suggested that we use it as a diagnostics tool.

Don Anderson asked about more vertical resolution in the model? Rasch stated that the AMWG is development more vertical resolution.

Ed Sarachik stated that CCSM should spend more time eliminating biases in the model and that it is more important to eliminate the biases than being involved in next IPCC (5th).

Boville stated that CCSM has to get off being on a schedule and having deadlines. Collins agreed and stated that there are several interesting science issues to be explored, but because of schedule and deadlines, there is not enough time to understand the issues. Isaac Held stated that rationally designed experiments to eliminate biases and make improvements to the model is not happening, and he thinks that using a low-resolution model more would be helpful.

It was suggested that a working group on the tropics be formed, and Collins said he was open to developing crosscutting teams instead. Large stated that CCSM will need to get NCAR management, division director, and lab director support for cross-cutting teams. Hurrell said that the division should support these teams.

4.The CCSM Data Policy was discussed, and Collins reminded everyone that the PI owns the intellectual property rights for 6 months to write peer-reviewed papers, and after 12 months all data is released. Bill Collins is the PI for the control runs and data, and the working group co-chairs are the PIs for the special runs for the Journal of Climate. The Climate Change Working Group will release the data for IPCC runs in November, and the data also will be sent to PCMDI in September.

Data storage is an issue for CCSM, and we may need to find funds for this.

5.It was stated that the single column model has been funded by DOE and is now part of the code release.