• Phase I: 25-year simulations (1979-2004) using NCEP boundary conditions (led by Iowa State/PIRCS) — provision of boundary conditions, data storage, initial RCM performance evaluation with major participation of each RCM group). Some preliminary results from analysis of NCEP-driven runs (PPT file).


• Phase IIa: RCMs (50 km resolution) nest in the AOGCMs for the current period 1971-2000 and in the SRES A2 future scenario for 2041-2070 — output storage managed by LLNL with strong participation of PIRCS at Iowa State.


• Phase IIb: Time-slice experiments — for comparison with RCM runs (GFDL and LLNL running NCAR CAM3). In the time-slice experiments, the atmospheric portion of an AOGCM is run at 50-km resolution with seasonally-varying observed SST (sea-surface temperatures). For the future run, ΔSST from the coupled experiment is added to the observed SST to generate future SST boundary conditions. The timeslice experiments are global in extent, though global data may not be available.


• Opportunity for double nesting (over specific regions) to draw in other RCM groups (e.g., NOAA OGP RISAs).


• NARCCAP Overview Presentation (PPT file)

Documents

NARCCAP Plan (PPT file)
Global Time Slice / RCM Comparison (PPT file)
NARCCAP Data Management Plan
Major Characteristics of Participating RCMs

RCM-GCM combinations:

(Note: Planned model combinations were changed in late 2008 to improve the experiment's statistical design.)