Insights Into Modeling Earth's Water Cycle From Superparameterized-E3SM Simulations

The Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Project is an ongoing, state-of-the-science Earth system modeling, simulation, and prediction project that optimizes the use of DOE's advanced supercomputers to meet the science needs of the nation. A key scientific motivation for this project is to improve our understanding of Earth's water cycle by developing further capability to realistically simulate hydrologic features with the E3SM. "Superparameterization" is a multiscale modeling framework in which a global Earth system model's moist physics parameterization suite is replaced by a cloud-resolving model in each grid column. Here, we present early simulations with the superparameterized E3SM (SP-E3SM) and compare its performance against typical configurations of the E3SM. Our analysis emphasizes key features of the water cycle, including the diurnal cycle of precipitation and the distribution of rain rates.