Abstract

Small scale gravity waves impact the ionosphere in ways that affect GPS functions, radio communication and satellite communication. It is therefore important to understand how well global climate models that extend into the ionosphere can simulate small scale waves. In this paper we compare the h... Show moreSmall scale gravity waves impact the ionosphere in ways that affect GPS functions, radio communication and satellite communication. It is therefore important to understand how well global climate models that extend into the ionosphere can simulate small scale waves. In this paper we compare the high (0.5°) and low (2°) resolution versions of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere-ionosphere eXtension (WACCM-X), which is a model of the whole atmosphere from the surface to ~500 km, to evaluate the impact of model resolution on small scale gravity waves. This analysis is conducted at different latitudes and levels of pressure to study how well the waves will resolve in the model. The lower resolution version of WACCM-X produced a steeper, more coarse slope. It did not resolve the small scale gravity waves as well as the high resolution version, which was expected. Two configurations of the higher resolution are evaluated. The first simulation is free running with no constraints. The second simulation included specified dynamics; it is constrained in the lower part of the atmosphere up to about 50km. The two high resolution simulations both produced similar power spectra. Overall, increasing the resolution of the WACCM-X model improved its ability to resolve small scale gravity waves. Furthermore, adding constraints to the model simulations did not alter the small scale waves in the model. Show less