Intermediate General Circulation Model
Encyclopedia
The Reading Intermediate General Circulation Model (IGCM), is a simplified or "intermediate" Global climate model
, which is developed by members of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading
, and by members of the Stratospheric Dynamics and Chemistry Group of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
at McGill University
The IGCM is a fast GCM
based on the primitive-equations baroclinic model of Hoskins and Simmons, which has been converted to run on workstations. Several versions have been developed with representations of the physics.
The adiabatic version, IGCM1, is freely available. Access to IGCM2 and IGCM3 is restricted to members of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading and collaborating researchers.
Global climate model
A General Circulation Model is a mathematical model of the general circulation of a planetary atmosphere or ocean and based on the Navier–Stokes equations on a rotating sphere with thermodynamic terms for various energy sources . These equations are the basis for complex computer programs commonly...
, which is developed by members of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
, and by members of the Stratospheric Dynamics and Chemistry Group of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
McGill Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences of McGill University is the largest university atmospheric-oceanic sciences group in Canada. It currently has 11 Faculty and 6 Associate Faculty members, 5 support staff, 14 research associates and postdoctoral fellows, and 31 graduate students. It...
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
The IGCM is a fast GCM
Global climate model
A General Circulation Model is a mathematical model of the general circulation of a planetary atmosphere or ocean and based on the Navier–Stokes equations on a rotating sphere with thermodynamic terms for various energy sources . These equations are the basis for complex computer programs commonly...
based on the primitive-equations baroclinic model of Hoskins and Simmons, which has been converted to run on workstations. Several versions have been developed with representations of the physics.
- IGCM1: Portable version of the original spectral dry baroclinic model formulated in sigma-levels, with an option for Newtonian relaxationNudgingNudge, also known as buzz, is a feature of instant messaging software used to get the attention of another user, for example, by shaking the conversation window or playing a sound...
and Rayleigh friction, no surface. - IGCM2: Includes simplified moist parameterisations, a cheap "radiation scheme" (ie constant tropospheric cooling), a bulk formulation scheme for the boundary layer, fixed surface temperatures and humidity, a uniform vertical diffusion, and can advect tracers.
- IGCM3x: Intermediate climate model which includes more sophisticated moist / clouds parameterisations, a radiation scheme with various gas absorbers, and a more realistic surface with an orography and land, sea surface schemes.
The adiabatic version, IGCM1, is freely available. Access to IGCM2 and IGCM3 is restricted to members of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading and collaborating researchers.