High Resolution Polar Regional Climate Model NHM-SMAP for the Greenland
Ice Sheet
Abstract
To improve surface mass balance (SMB) estimates for the Greenland Ice
Sheet (GrIS), we develop a spatially and temporally high resolution
polar regional climate model combining the Japan Meteorological Agency
Non-Hydrostatic atmospheric Model and the Snow Metamorphism and Albedo
Process model (NHM–SMAP). At present, the horizontal resolution of the
model is set to be 5 km with the temporal interval of 1-hour. The model
forced by the Japanese 55year Reanalysis (JRA-55) has been evaluated in
the GrIS during the 2011–2014 mass balance years using in-situ surface
meteorological and stake measurement data [1]. Results show that the
model reproduced the measured features of the GrIS climate, diurnal
variations, and even a meso-scale strong wind event. In particular, it
reproduces the GrIS surface melt area extent well. Recently, near
real-time calculations with the model are conducted operationally. Here
we introduce the concept and framework of the model, then present
performance of the model from various aspects. In addition, some new
results from the operational near-real time calculations will be shown
and discussed. Reference [1] Niwano et al. (2018) NHM-SMAP:
Spatially and temporally high resolution non-hydrostatic atmospheric
model coupled with detailed snow process model for Greenland Ice Sheet.
The Cryosphere, 12, 635-655, doi:10.5194/tc-12-635-2018.