Status May 25

I'm on my way out to the LandFlux Workshop, so this will be a quick post.

The "sawtooth" problem first discussed in the May 18 status update is still being worked on. The bias correction that seemed like it might be a solution did not fix the problem. A short 1/2 degree experiment with limiting very strong stability in NH winter did not have an immediate response, though, GCM seasonal simulations show that this should make a big step to correct the cold bias thought to be the root of the saw tooth. This problem is also found in 2 degree experiments, so that new seasonal 2 degree experimetns are being started to assess our understanding of the problem and show that correcting the surface temperature bias corrects the sawtooth. 2 degree runs turn around much more easily than 1/2 so results should be available next week.

Unfortunately, being on travel, I'll miss the meetings that review the results, but I'll spin back up as soon as possible.

The SSMI experiment is moving forward. It is in late 1985, looking forward to July 1987 when SSMI becomes available. There should be alot to work with when I get back from Landflux (June 4).

In a general sense, we (a concensus of the GEOS5 status meetings) are very pleased with where the systems is, and were it not for the sawtooth would be moving on with the validation experiments. There is one other science issue that has come up. The Relocator (corrects the location and dynamics of tropical cyclones) was run last summer for MAP06. Somewhere along the way, the numerous updates and changes have "broken" the Relocator code. It shouldn't be difficult to fix, but will need to be tested before we go to validation.

As far as the schedule goes, a critical milepost will be the start of the validation experiments. Once validation experiments start, then we should have good ideas on the beginning of production.