Model development and maintenance

Research Area:
Numerical Modeling, Hydrology, Boundary Layer, Data Assimilation, Visualization

The terrestrial system modeling platform (TerrSysMP) was developed to simulate the interaction between lateral flow processes in river basins with the lower atmospheric boundary layer. It features three model components: COSMO, CLM , ParFlow and an external coupler OASIS3 that drives the system. This platform allows explicit modeling of land-atmosphere interactions across scales ranging from meters to kilometers via mosaic and downscaling / upscaling approaches. New parameterizations for root water uptake, additional plant function types, downscaling algorithms, and CO2 exchange processes have also been implemented into TerrSysMP in collaboration with B and C science clusters, and are currently being tested. Data assimilation capabilities using the Ensemble Kalman Filter algorithm via DART (Data Assimilation Research Testbed) are currently being implemented for the TerrSysMP, which will allow model state updating based on observations. TerrSysMP is also being tested along with ParFlow-WRF using idealized and real test cases to estimate the variability between the two systems.

The website (git.meteo.uni-bonn.de), provides access to the repository of TerrSysMP. NEW USERS should register in the website and contact Z4 to get access to TerrSysMP. The site also offers links to extensive wiki for installing the system in various machines. A new suite of pre-processing and post-processing tools has been developed for the TerrSysMP and is available from the website. As an outreach program, a training course was conducted for the PhD students during the IRTG lecture series, forming a basis for the development of technical manual and user guide for the system; and the design of a TerrSysMP course for researchers within and outside TR32.

Cooperation partner:
JSC, DWD, CERFACS, ETH