Model coupler for coupling of atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial models

Nagai, Haruyasu  ; Kobayashi, Takuya ; Tsuzuki, Katsunori  ; Kim, K.

As a numerical simulation tool of the numerical simulation system SPEEDI-MP, which is applicable for various environmental studies, a model coupling program (model coupler) has been developed. It controls parallel calculations of several models and data exchanges among them to realize the dynamical coupling of the models. It is applicable for any models with three-dimensional structured grid system, which is used by most environmental and hydrodynamic models. A coupled model system for water circulation has been constructed with atmosphere, ocean, wave, hydrology, and land-surface models using the model coupler. Performance tests of the coupled model system for water circulation were also carried out for the flood event at Saudi Arabia in January 2005 and the storm surge case by the hurricane KATRINA in August 2005.