GLOBAL MODELING INITIATIVE
The Global Modeling Initiative (GMI) was initiated under the auspices
of the Atmospheric Effects of Aircraft Program (AEAP) in 1995. The goal
of GMI is to develop and maintain a state-of-the-art modular 3-D chemistry
and transport model (CTM) that can be used for assessment of the impact
of various natural and anthropogenic perturbations on atmospheric composition
and chemistry, including, but not exclusively, the effect of aircraft.
The GMI model also serves as a testbed for model improvements.
GMI has developed a modular chemical-transport model with the ability
to incorporate different components and inputs, such as meteorological
fields, chemical and microphysical mechanisms, numerical methods, source
gas emissions, and other modules representing the different approaches
of current models in the scientific community, as well as carry out multiyear
assessment simulations. Testing GMI results against observations is a
high priority of GMI activities. The goals of the GMI effort are to:
- reduce uncertainties in model results and predictions by understanding
the processes that contribute most to the variability of
model results, and by evaluation of model results against
existing observations of atmospheric compostion;
- understand the coupling between atmospheric composition and
climate through coordination with climate models; and
- contribute
to the assessment of the anthropogenic perturbations to
the Earth system.
At present, the GMI model exists in separate tropospheric, stratospheric,
and aerosol versions. Stratospheric simulations ozone trends have been
carried out from 1995 to 2030 using the winds from the NASA Finite Volume
General Circulation Model (FVGCM) and the NASA Finite Volume Data Assimilation
System (FVDAS). Tropospheric simulations have been carried out for 1997
conditions, utilizing winds from DAO, as well as the Middle Atmosphere
Community Climate Model (MACCM version 3), and the Goddard Institute
for Space Studies (GISS-II'). Sensitivities of a new aerosol model (University
of Michigan) to meterorological fields and chemical inputs are being
tested in Spring 2004.
Ongoing model development includes: a) merging the tropospheric and
stratospheric version, to allow coupled stratospheric-tropospheric simulations,
and b) incorporation of aerosol microphysics in both the troposphere
and stratosphere.To date, GMI has concentrated on evaluating the variability
of simulated atmospheric composition due to incorporation of meterological
input from different free running general circulation models and assimilation
systems. This effort will be expanded to include studies of the variability
due to other model processes.
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Software
Integration and Visualization Office (SIVO) is currently working to make GMI open source. However,
these efforts are still in progress and not complete. In the interim,
a Software Usage Agreement is required by GSFC’s
Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) Office to obtain the software. This
agreement 1) makes arrangements for understanding what government
research purposes the software will be supporting; 2) identifies
what contract, grant, and agreement it will be used; and
3) spells out responsibilities regarding software distribution. After
completing these agreements, the IPP Office will let SIVO
know that you may access the source code. The
Software Usage Agreement form may be obtained by contacting: Dale.L.Hithon@nasa.gov,
Technology Transfer Specialist, Innovative Partnership Program
Office, (301) 286-2691. When contacting Dale, inform her that you
wish to complete a “Software Usage Agreement” form for GMI
Modeling Software, NASA Case No: GSC-15363-1. Alternatively,
you may send an email. A sample
email request is available on the IPP website.
+ View GMI
diagram
+ Browse GMI software
+ Go to the GMI
Homepage
+ Request support from
SIVO
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