Chemical Mechanisms and Their Applications in the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Earth System Model.
J Eric Nielsen, Steven Pawson, Andrea Molod, Benjamin Auer, Arlindo M da Silva, Anne R Douglass, Bryan Duncan, Qing Liang, Michael Manyin, Luke D Oman, William Putman, Susan E Strahan, Krzysztof Wargan
Author Information
J Eric Nielsen: Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham MD USA. ORCID
Steven Pawson: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA. ORCID
Andrea Molod: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA.
Benjamin Auer: Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham MD USA.
Arlindo M da Silva: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA. ORCID
Anne R Douglass: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA. ORCID
Bryan Duncan: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA.
Qing Liang: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA. ORCID
Michael Manyin: Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham MD USA. ORCID
Luke D Oman: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA. ORCID
William Putman: Global Modeling and Assimilation Office NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA.
Susan E Strahan: Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA. ORCID
Krzysztof Wargan: Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Lanham MD USA. ORCID
NASA's Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) Earth System Model (ESM) is a modular, general circulation model (GCM), and data assimilation system (DAS) that is used to simulate and study the coupled dynamics, physics, chemistry, and biology of our planet. GEOS is developed by the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. It generates near-real-time analyzed data products, reanalyses, and weather and seasonal forecasts to support research targeted to understanding interactions among Earth System processes. For chemistry, our efforts are focused on ozone and its influence on the state of the atmosphere and oceans, and on trace gas data assimilation and global forecasting at mesoscale discretization. Several chemistry and aerosol modules are coupled to the GCM, which enables GEOS to address topics pertinent to NASA's Earth Science Mission. This paper describes the atmospheric chemistry components of GEOS and provides an overview of its Earth System Modeling Framework (ESMF)-based software infrastructure, which promotes a rich spectrum of feedbacks that influence circulation and climate, and impact human and ecosystem health. We detail how GEOS allows model users to select chemical mechanisms and emission scenarios at run time, establish the extent to which the aerosol and chemical components communicate, and decide whether either or both influence the radiative transfer calculations. A variety of resolutions facilitates research on spatial and temporal scales relevant to problems ranging from hourly changes in air quality to trace gas trends in a changing climate. Samples of recent GEOS chemistry applications are provided.
