What is an idealised configuration?#

Here, we use the term ‘idealised’ to mean a minimal configuration of LFRic-Atmosphere that is typically used in research applications.

Idealised convection modelling#

We will focus on the so-called the cloud-resolving model (CRM) configuration, which uses:

  • Cartesian-geometry spatial grid

  • double periodic lateral boundary conditions

  • flat uniform surface

  • prescribed domain-wide forcings

  • minimal LFRic physics setup

This configuration is used for studying convective processes on Earth and other planets.

In the practical, we will use a dynamics-only configuration in u-dz791. This suite is set up for simulating thermo-compositional convection in hydrogen-rich atmospheres.

3D plots of cloud fraction for four different scenarios.

Fig. 34 An example of a CRM setup. 3D plots of cloud fraction for four different scenarios.#

Other idealised and extraterrestrial configurations#

There are many other configurations of LFRic-Atmosphere that can be categorised as ‘idealised’, to name but a few:

  • a global aquaplanet configuration, i.e. Earth without continents (and a slab ocean),

  • temperature or wind forcing test cases (e.g., the Held-Suarez test) for Earth and other planets,

  • a setup with radiative transfer and idealised chemistry for hot extrasolar gas giants.