CLIMBER-4
The next generation CLIMBER model
The CLIMBER (CLIMate and BiosphERe) models are a family of Earth-system models of intermediate complexity (EMICs) developed at PIK. EMICs attempt to overcome the gap between simple and comprehensive models by using a lower spatial resolution than general circulation models and simplified governing equations, yet describing the relevant processes and feedbacks in the climate system. EMICs are computationally less expensive, which makes them ideal tools for studies in paleoclimate, anthropogenic climate change and model uncertainty analysis.
CLIMBER-4 is developed within the PIK flagship project NEXT from the CLIMBER-2 model, but features a state-of-the-art ocean general circulation model, a higher-resolution statistical-dynamical atmosphere with improved dynamics, and an improved land-surface scheme coupled to the dynamic vegetation model LPJmL. As a first step from CLIMBER-2 to CLIMBER-4, the model version CLIMBER-3α has been developed and used in many ongoing and published scientific studies.
Scheme
Model components
| Atmosphere A new statistical-dynamical atmosphere model (called aeolus 1.0) with improved dynamics and higher resolution has been developed for CLIMBER-4. | |
| Ocean The ocean module for CLIMBER-4 is based on the general circulation model MOM 4, the latest version of the Modular Ocean Model developed at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL). | |
| Ice sheets For specific scientific questions, we plan to couple CLIMBER-4 to ice-sheet models for Greenland (SICOPOLIS) and Antarctica (PISM-PIK). | |
| Land surface and vegetation An improved land-surface model specifically designed for
coupling with the dynamic vegetation model LPJmL has been developed. |
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| Coupling GFDL's Flexible Modelling System (FMS) is used to couple all model components. |
Team members and responsibilities
- Head Andrey Ganopolski
- Project management Georg Feulner
- Scientific programming Stefan Petri
- Coupled system Georg Feulner, Anders Levermann, Stefan Petri, Stefan Rahmstorf
- Atmosphere Eva Bauer, Dim Coumou, Vladimir Petoukhov, Alexey Eliseev (A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics RAS, Moscow)
- Ocean Matthias Hofmann, Hendrik Kienert, Jacob Schewe
- Ice sheets and shelves Reinhard Calov, Anders Levermann, Maria Martin, Alex Robinson (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Ricarda Winkelmann
- Land-surface and vegetation Georg Feulner, Kirsten Thonicke, Werner von Bloh, Matteo Willeit
