MERGE SP: Development of a novel and computationally efficient single-column Earth System Model (SCESM) for land-atmosphere studies

We propose to develop a single-column earth system model (SCESM) by coupling LPJ-GUESS to the OpenIFS single-column model (SCM). This concrete aim, fully feasible in the lifetime of the project, will result in a unique, state-of-the-art computational framework for more detailed studies of physical and chemical land/vegetation-atmosphere feedbacks and allow users to make detailed assessments of the effects of land use change on local climate. It will also represent a considerable milestone in the development of EC-Earth4, of which OpenIFS is part. Furthermore, our framework will be accessible to others in MERGE (especially RA1 and RA3) and the EC-Earth Consortium, and leverage existing projects at Lund University (LU) where the focus is on atmospheric chemistry and cloud processes.