A Global Coupled Atmosphere-Wave Model System Based on C-Coupler2. Part I: Model Description

Abstract

This study presents a global coupled atmosphere-wave model system (MPAS-NWW3) and its verification. The Community Coupler2 (C-Coupler2), a developed coupler, is used to couple the global wave configuration of the NWW3 (WAVEWATHCH III) with the global atmosphere configuration of the MPAS-Atmosphere model. Surface wind at 10 meters above sea level, temperature and specific humidity at 2 meters above sea level are the coupled variables for atmospheric component model, and significant wave height, average wave length and peak frequency are for wave component model. Some codes are added to the surface layer scheme and the effect of momentum flux induced by sea waves is taken into consideration in this paper. All the coupled variables, input or output the coupler are demonstrated their consistency in the MPAS-NWW3 coupled model.