Problems of modeling climate and climate change

The properties of the climate system as a physical object are considered. Major concepts of the mathematical theory of climate are stated, and the problems of constructing mathematical climate models are discussed. The results of reproducing the present-day climate are analyzed, and the sensitivity of the climate system to changes in the content of greenhouse gases is considered. Major directions are formulated in which the development of the mathematical theory of climate and of modeling climate and climate change is possible.     

Some aspects in the development of dynamic meteorology in Russia in 2003–2006

A brief review of the studies performed by Russian scientists in dynamic meteorology in 2003–2006 is presented. This review is based on the material prepared by the Commission on Dynamic Meteorology of the National Geophysical Committee of the Russian Academy of Sciences and included in the general information report of the Section of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences at the 24th General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics.     

Some Results of Studies in the Area of Numerical Weather Prediction and Climate Theory in Siberia

The results of studies in the area ofnumerical weather prediction and climate theory are presented. These results were obtained by the team of researchers of the Siberian school of mathematical modeling of atmosphere and ocean dynamics established by academician G.I. Marchuk. Academician V.P. Dymnikov played an enormous role in the development of this school by enriching it with new approaches and ideas. His contribution to the Siberian school of mathematical modeling was most strongly pronounced concerning three problems: numerical weather prediction for the Siberian region, the modeling of the climate system dynamics, and the mathematics and theory of climate.     

Simulation of modern climate with the new version of the INM RAS climate model

The INMCM5.0 numerical model of the Earth’s climate system is presented, which is an evolution from the previous version, INMCM4.0. A higher vertical resolution for the stratosphere is applied in the atmospheric block. Also, we raised the upper boundary of the calculating area, added the aerosol block, modified parameterization of clouds and condensation, and increased the horizontal resolution in the ocean block. The program implementation of the model was also updated. We consider the simulation of the current climate using the new version of the model. Attention is focused on reducing systematic errors as compared to the previous version, reproducing phenomena that could not be simulated correctly in the previous version, and modeling the problems that remain unresolved.     

Some directions in the development of dynamic meteorology in Russia in 2007–2010

A brief review of the results of investigations carried out by Russian scientists in the field of dynamic meteorology in 2007–2010 is presented. This review is based on the information prepared by the Commission on the Dynamic Meteorology of the National Geophysical Committee, Russian Academy of Sciences, and included in the general information report of the Section of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences at the XXV General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics.     

Modeling of the Dissipation Rate of Turbulent Kinetic Energy

Doklady Earth Sciences - We consider a relaxation equation for turbulence wavenumber in semi-empirical turbulence closures. It is shown that the well-known phenomenological equation for the...     

Russian-British conference on hydrologic consequences of climate change (Novosibirsk,June 13–15, 2007)

An international conference and a seminar on hydrologic consequences of climate changes were held at Akademogorodok in Novosibirsk in 2007 (June 13–15). At the initiative of the British Council, the conference was organized by the Institute for Water and Environmental Problems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences within arrangements devoted to the 50th anniversary of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The conference was financially supported by the British Council, the Federal Water Resources Agency of the RF Ministry of Natural Resources, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Rosgidromet), and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. All in all, 65 leading specialists from institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, its Siberian Branch and Karelian Scientific Centre, the institutions of Rosgidromet and the Federal Water Resources Agency of the RF Ministry of Natural Resources, and from Great Britain (Southampton University, National Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and consulting firm of HR Wallingford).     

Mathematical modeling of the atmosphere-cryolitic zone interaction

The main factors controlling the ground thermal regime characteristic of cold regions are analyzed with the use of a one-dimensional model of heat and moisture transport in the soil and its interaction with the atmosphere. The influence of these factors on the state of permafrost and the present-day climate as a whole is investigated on the basis of numerical experiments with a global model of general atmospheric circulation. It is shown that a decrease in the heat conductivity coefficient of the upper soil level, which can be interpreted as a layer of nondecomposed litter and moss, considerably increases the area occupied by permafrost. The introduction of the dependence of the heat conductivity coefficient on the phase state of water in the ground also increases the area occupied by permafrost and decreases the depth of the layer of its seasonal thawing in this territory. It is also established that the larger the relative amount of water which can be contained in the ground in a supercooled state is, the higher its temperature is, the lager the active layer depth is, and the smaller the area occupied by perennially frozen rocks is.     

Development of Information-computational Infrastructure for Modern Climatology

The activities on the creation of information-computational infrastructure to support the climatic research initiated by academician V.P. Dymnikov are described. In particular, the solutions to the problem of working with big climatic and meteorological datasets are analyzed. The structure and functionality are presetned of the thematic web-GIS “Climate” whose software-hardware prototype operates at the Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences. The system supports the interactive analysis of big climatic and meteorological datasets and the visualization of its results. The results of the analysis of aridity in South Siberia in the late 20th–early 21st centuries carried out using the web-GIS “Climate” prototype are presented.