Unravelling Subgrid-Scale Orography Effects on Composition in the Free Atmosphere (SCOPE)
Domain at 3km horizontal resolution (top) and NO2 concentration along a transect (red line in top figure) for simulations at 50km (bottom left) and 3km (bottom right) horizontal resolution on 8th November 1999 at 18 UTC. The black shape is the orography. The parameterizations used are: Purdue Lin microphysics scheme, Grell 3D convection scheme (only for 50km), RRTMG shortwave and longwave schemes, Bougeault-Lacarrere boundary layer scheme (BouLac), Eta Similarity surface layer scheme, and Unified NOAA land surface model scheme. Picture rights: Anahà Villalba Pradas.
Within SCOPE, we will undertake a pioneering effort towards understanding the subgrid-scaleorography (SSO) impacts on transport, tropospheric chemistry, and composition in complex terrains. To date, comprehensive climate models do not resolve a significant part of orographic variations. Hence, SSO effects, including freely propagating gravity waves (GWs), must be parameterized in chemistry-climate models. SCOPE is motivated by the increasing evidence that fluctuations induced by GWs influence processes far away from their sources (e.g. cirrus formation), while climate modes lack any representation of possible SSO effects on transport,chemistry and composition. As the first step towards parameterizing these effects in models, we will produce and analyze high-resolution sensitivity simulations with interactive chemistry and modified orography and evaluate the results with both existing and forthcoming observational datasets. SCOPE is a research effort at a cross-section between atmospheric chemistry and dynamics perfectly aligned with existing international research activities.