Brief Description

Climate Models used by UKCA

The UKCA model runs within the Hadley Centre version of the Unified Model. There are a number of different versions of this climate model at a number of resolutions which are used for UKCA development.

UM Version	Model	Horizontal Resolution	Vertical Levels	Model Top	Scheme Used
6.1	HadGAM1a	N48 (2.5°×3.75°)	L60	~84km	Tropospheric Chemistry
6.1	HadGAM2	N48	L60	~84km	Stratospheric Chemistry
6.6.4	HadGEM2-ES	N96	L38	~40km	Hadley Centre Earth System Model
7.1	HadGEM3-A	N96 (1.25°×1.875°)	L38	~40km	Tropospheric Chemistry
7.3	HadGEM3-A r2.0	N96	L38	~40km	Tropospheric Chemistry
7.3	HadGEM3-A r2.0	N96	L63	~40km	Tropospheric Chemistry
7.3	HadGEM3-A r2.0	N96	L85	85km	Stratospheric Chemistry
7.3	HadGEM3-A r2.0	N48	L60	~84km	Stratospheric Chemistry
7.3	HadGEM3-AO r2.0	N48	L60	~84km	QUEST Earth System Model

UKCA: Currently Available Chemistry Schemes

UKCA Development Timeline

Short-Term Development

Stratospheric Chemistry at UM7.3 HadGEM3-A (N96L85 and N48L60) - Luke Abraham
ASAD Flux Diagnostics at UM7.3 - Luke Abraham

Medium-Term Development

HadGEM3-AO UKCA - Luke Abraham

Long-Term Development

Coupled UKCA Stratosphere-Troposphere Chemistry with MODE

UKCA: Model Outline

Development of UKCA consists of the following subprojects:

Tropospheric model development

HadGEM3 at N96L63 and HadGEM2-ES at N96L38
Tropospheric Configuration of UKCA (Fiona M. O’Connor)

Stratospheric model development

HadGEM3 at N96L85/N48L60
Coupled stratospheric chemistry

Aerosols

New aerosol species and microphysics
Aerosol chemistry

New features

Coupled chemistry, aerosols and climate model
Based on new dynamics
Combined troposphere-stratosphere chemistry
Improved aerosol microphysics and chemistry
Capability to interact with surface, radiation and biosphere
Modular structure