The Global Atmospheric System Studies (GASS) Panel facilitates and supports the international community who carry out and use observations, process studies and numerical model experiments with the goal of developing and improving the representation of the atmosphere in weather and climate models. Primarily, GASS coordinates scientific projects that bring together experts to contribute to the development of atmospheric models.
Co-chairs: Jon Petch and Stephen Klein
GASS Science Steering Committee and Terms of Reference
Subscribe to the GASS E-mail List
The 1st Pan-GASS Conference was held on 10-14 September
2012 in Boulder, Colorado, USA, and focused on observing, understanding and modelling atmospheric physical processes. The final conference program with links to the plenary presentations is available on the conference website.
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| GASS Projects |
Description |
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GEWEX Atmospheric Boundary
Layer Study (GABLS-3)
Contacts: Bert Holtslag and Gunilla Svensson
GABLS-3 Websites:
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GABLS coordinates
research on boundary layer physics to improve the representation of the atmospheric
boundary layer in models.
The GABLS-3 large-eddy simulation (LES) intercomparison case is based on a moderately stratified, baroclinic, mid-latitude boundary layer observed over Cabauw, the Netherlands on 1 July 2006. |
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Vertical Structure and Diabatic Processes of the Madden-Julian Oscillation -- A joint project with the MJO Task Force using YOTC data
Contacts: Xianan Jiang and Prince Xavier
Website: http://www.ucar.edu/yotc/mjodiab.html
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To understand the role that convection, cloud, radiative and dynamic processes play in the development and evolution of the MJO in order to achieve better fidelity of the MJO in global prediction models. |
Convective and Cloud Processes During TWP-ICE: A Multi-Model Evaluation Project
Contacts: Ann Fridlind and Jon Petch
Website:http://science.arm.gov/wg/cpm/scm/scmic6/index.html
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To understand the large-scale controls on tropical deep convection properties, including convective scale vertical velocity and stratiform vs. convective partitioning.
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Microphysics Project
Contact: Ben Shipway
Website: http://appconv.metoffice.com/microphysics/index.shtml
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To better understand the differences between 3D models in different intercomparison cases.
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Boundary Layer Cloud Projects
Contact: Adrian Lock
Website: http://appconv.metoffice.com/blclouds/
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Improve physical parameterizations of clouds and cloud related processes and their interactions. |
CFMIP-GASS Intercomparison of LES and SCMs (CGILS)
Contacts: Minghua Zhang, Chris Bretherton, Peter Blossey
Website: http://atmgcm.msrc.sunysb.edu/cfmip_figs/Case_specification.html
CFMIP website: http://cfmip.metoffice.com/
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Improve understanding and simulation of boundary-layer cloud feedbacks on climate through intercomparison of LES and
single-column models forced by idealized climate perturbations. |
Polar Cloud Project
Semi-Direct Aerosol Campaign (ISDAC) Mixed-Phase Arctic Clouds Project
Contacts: Mikhail Ovchinnikov and Hugh Morrison
Website: https://engineering.arm.gov/~mikhail/ISDAC_F31.html
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To understand the role of dynamical and microphysical processes and their interactions in mixed-phase Arctic clouds.
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Cirrus Model Intercomparison Project
Contact: Andreas Muhlbauer |
To investigate the microphysical and macrophysical evolution and life cycle of a synoptically driven cirrus and to compare simulated cirrus cloud properties and radiative effects among models.
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Grey Zone Project: Cold Air Outbreak Intercomparison Case
Contact: Pier Siebesma |
To systematically explore the capability of climate and weather models to represent cloud and convective processes in the resolution range between 1 and 10 km (the so called grey zone) in support of the development of scale adaptive parameterizations for these processes. As a first activity, a comprehensive intercomparison case for a cold air outbreak such as observed during the CONSTRAIN field campaign has been developed. |
Other GASS Projects
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Description
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Continuous Intercomparison of Radiation Codes
Contacts: Lazaros Oreopoulos and Eli Mlawer
Website: http://circ.gsfc.nasa.gov |
CIRC is intended as an evolving and regularly updated reference source for evaluation against "line-by-line" standards of radiative transfer codes used in Global Climate Models and other atmospheric applications. CIRC differs from previous intercomparisons in that it relies on an observationally validated catalogue of cases. It is currently completing Phase I.
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| See the Core Group on Theoretical Studies of the Convection Parameterization Problem if you are interested in joining a European effort for strengthening the theoretical basis of physical parameterizations. |
