Unified Model Documentation Paper 028

Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

UM Version : 10.1
Last Updated : 2014-12-05 (for vn10.0)
Owner : Carol Halliwell

Met Office
FitzRoy Road
Exeter
Devon EX1 3PB
United Kingdom

c Crown Copyright 2015

This document has not been published; Permission to quote from it must be obtained from the Unified Model
system manager at the above address
 UMDP: 028
Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

Contents
1 Introduction 2

2 The Met Office LEM and the Smagorinsky subgrid model 2

3 Implementation in the UM 4
3.1 Calculating the diffusion coefficients. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.1.1 Subroutine TURB Smagorinsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.1.2 Horizontal diffusion coefficients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.1.3 Vertical diffusion coefficients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.1.4 Stability functions in the local boundary layer scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.1.5 Maximum value for viscosity in New Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.2 Numerical implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2.1 Horizontal diffusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2.2 Vertical diffusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2.3 Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.3 Using the subgrid turbulence scheme in the code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.4 Code tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

4 Namelist parameters 12

5 References 13

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Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

1 Introduction

Advances in high resolution modelling require improvements in subgrid-scale mixing. For gridlengths of the
order 10km or more it is reasonable to use column-based convection and boundary layer parametrizations and
restrict horizontal transport to the resolved scale advection with, potentially, fixed coefficient diffusion for nu-
merical stability. However, as the gridlength decreases to order 1km or below, restricting parametrized mixing
to the vertical becomes increasingly less valid. At these resolutions some form of 3D turbulence scheme is
required. Such a scheme can be found in the Met Office Large-Eddy Model (LEM) and it is this, Smagorinsky-
type scheme, that has been implemented in the UM and is described here. Note that additional relevant aspects
of the boundary layer parametrization (such as blending the boundary layer and Smagorinsky schemes) and
convection parametrization (changes to triggering and closure for convection permitting resolutions) are docu-
mented within those UM documentation papers ( UMDP-024 and UMDP-027 respectively).
In this document, Section 2 describes the Met Office LEM and the Smagorinsky subgrid model, Section 3 details
the implementation of this scheme in the New Dynamics and ENDGame versions of the UM and Section 4 lists
the namelist parameters associated with the subgrid turbulence scheme. References can be found in Section
5.

2 The Met Office LEM and the Smagorinsky subgrid model

The governing equations used in the LEM are a quasi-Boussinesq equation set in which the mean reference
state is defined by ρ0 , θ0 and ps and deviations from this state, denoted by the prime superscript, are assumed
to be small. The mean reference state is a function of height only and the basic equation set is
 
Dui ∂ p′ 1 ∂τij
=− + δ13 B ′ + − 2ǫijk Ωj uk , (1)
Dt ∂xi ρs ρs ∂xj

∂
(ρs ui ) = 0, (2)
∂xi
   
Dθ 1 ∂hθi ∂θ ∂θ
= + + , (3)
Dt ρs ∂xi ∂t mphys ∂t rad

 
Dqn 1 ∂hqi n ∂qn
= − , (4)
Dt ρs ∂xi ∂t mphys

where χs is the reference state of χ and χ′ is the perturbation from the reference state. B ′ is the buoyancy, τ
is the subgrid stress, δ13 is the Kroneker delta function, Ω is the Earth’s angular velocity, ǫijk is the alternating
pseudo-tensor and hθ and hqn are the subgrid scalar fluxes of θ and qn variables respectively.
As convention,

D ∂ ∂
= + ui . (5)
Dt ∂t ∂xi

In the LEM the thermodynamic variable is actually θ′ and so equation (3) can be rewritten as

   
1 ∂hθ3s
′
Dθ′ dθs 1 ∂hθi ∂θ′ ∂θ′
+w = + + + . (6)
Dt dz ρs ∂xi ρs ∂z ∂t mphys ∂t rad

The LEM subgrid model computes estimates for the 3D subgrid stresses, τij , and subgrid scalar fluxes, hn .
A relatively simple subgrid model is used, based on an extension of the basic Smagorinsky model to include
effects of stability of the layer. This uses the mixing length hypothesis. The mixing length is specified, being
smaller than the grid length, and the eddy diffusion and eddy viscosity coefficients are derived, this time taking

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into account variation in the x- and y-directions, i.e. a 3-dimensional scheme. The subgrid stress, τij and the
scalar flux, hni , are specified by

τij = ρs νSij , (7)

∂qn
hni = −ρs νh , (8)
∂xi

where ν is the subgrid eddy-viscosity, νh is the corresponding diffusivity for scalars and

∂ui ∂uj
Sij = + . (9)
∂xj ∂xi

Sij is the rate of strain tensor.

In practise, the calculation of ν is based on the modulus of Sij . The classical Smagorinsky-Lilly approach uses

ν = (cs ∆)2 S = λ20 S, (10)

where ∆ is the grid spacing,

  21
kSij k 1 X
S= √ = S2  , (11)
2 2 i,j=1,3 ij

and cs is traditionally regarded as a constant. In practise, values of λ0 which correspond to cs ≃ 0.23 are usually
used.
For boundary layer cloud studies the grids are typically anisotropic with ∆x ≈ ∆y ≈ 50m and ∆z ≈ 10m. In
this case ∆ = ∆x is a suitable approximation for determining λ0 since no new scales are resolved by having an
enhanced ∆z (assuming roughly spherical eddies).
In the limit of poor resolution, when ∆ is greater or equal to the depth of the turbulent layer, H, the model
no longer acts as a true LES but more like a one-dimensional model or NWP model in its representation of
turbulence. In this case it may be more appropriate to use λ0 = 0.15H to be consistent with the UM boundary-
layer scheme.
Two important extensions are made to this classical approach, reducing the mixing length close to the sur-
face and modifying it to take account of the dynamical effects of the local Richardson-number (Rip ) through
Richardson number dependent functions fm and fh .
Viscosity, ν, and diffusivity, νh are prescribed through

ν = λ2 Sfm (Rip ) (12)

2
νh = λ Sfh (Rip ). (13)

where
1 1 1
= 2+ 2, (14)
λ2 λ0 [k(z + z0 )]

Here, z is the height above the surface, z0 is the roughness length of the surface and k ≃ 0.4 is the von Karman
constant.
The Met Office LEM uses different stability functions depending on the stability of the domain. In statically
unstable conditions (Rip < 0)

fm = (1 − cRip )1/2 , (15)

fh = a(1 − bRip )1/2 , (16)

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Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

where a, b and c are empirical constants. These are given by

1
a= , P rN = 0.7, (17)
P rN

where P rN is the Prandtl number in neutral conditions and

b = 40.0, c = 16.0 (18)

For statically stable conditions (Rip > 0)

 Rip r
fm = 1 − (1 − hRip ) (19)
Ric

 Rip r
fh = a 1 − (1 − gRip ) (20)
Ric

where Ric is the critical pointwise Richardson number above which we assume fm = fh = 0 and g, h, and r are
constants. The best agreement with observations is obtained with

r = 4, Ric = 0.25, g = 1.2, h = 0.0 (21)

More detail about the Met Office LEM can be found in [3].

3 Implementation in the UM

The Smagorinsky diffusivity described in Section 2 is isotropic but the UM grid is not, with the vertical grid
spacing smaller, in general, than the horizontal. In this case, a long timestep can result in an explicit solution
scheme being unstable due to vertical terms. Hence, an implicit vertical scheme is desirable. It is, therefore,
appropriate to split the horizontal and vertical diffusion using the existing explicit horizontal diffusion scheme
and the existing implicit boundary layer scheme.
The “conserving” horizontal diffusion operator for a general scalar Q is given by:
       
1 ∂η ∂ Kλ ∂ ∂r 1 ∂ ∂ ∂r
Dηη (Q) = Q + Kφ cos φ Q , (22)
r2 ∂r ∂λ cos2 φ ∂λ ∂η cos φ ∂φ ∂φ ∂η

where Kλ and Kφ are the coefficients of diffusion in the λ and φ directions respectively.
This formulation has been found to cause a problem when orography is present (see [4]). This is due to the
operator diffusing along layers rather than levels (diffusing volume dzQ rather than Q itself). The problem is
eliminated by using the approximation ∂r/∂η = 1, which results in
    
1 ∂ Kλ ∂Q 1 ∂ ∂Q
Dηη (Q) = 2 + Kφ cos φ . (23)
r ∂λ cos2 φ ∂λ cos φ ∂φ ∂φ

A rearrangement of equation (23) eliminates the requirement for this approximation.

The horizontal diffusion scheme in UM6.1 and earlier versions diffuses the potential temperature, moisture and
the horizontal velocity fields using a diffusion coefficient which is only able to vary in the vertical. The increments
to the θ, q, u and v fields due to the diffusion are added to the other increments from the other processes through
the subroutines h diff theta, h diff q, h diff u and h diff v (or h cdiff theta, h cdiff q, h cdiff u and h cdiff v in the
case of conservative diffusion). The vertical velocity field, w, is not diffused in these versions.
The subgrid turbulence scheme was written based on a change in formulation of the diffusion subroutines
(see [1]). These are basically the same as the conservative diffusion routines but allow the use of a diffusion
coefficient that can vary in all three directions. The diffusion of the θ, q, u and v fields and, additionally, the w

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Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

field is carried out in turb diff theta, turb diff q, turb diff u, turb diff v and turb diff w respectively. From UM6.6
the vertical diffusion of w has been added.
The subgrid turbulence scheme can be activated in the horizontal, vertical or both. This is achieved by setting
the logicals L subfilter horiz and L subfilter vert accordingly.
The 3D turbulence scheme is a basis from which improvements and additions can be made.
For details of the implicit boundary layer scheme see UMDP-024 [5].

3.1 Calculating the diffusion coefficients.

A flow diagram for the code related to the scheme can be found in Section 3.4 but the method is described here.

3.1.1 Subroutine TURB Smagorinsky

The coefficients in equations (12) and (13) are calculated by first calling the subroutine TURB Smagorinsky.
This routine is called from ATM STEP, in between subroutines
Atmos physics1 and Atmos physics2.
TURB Smagorinsky calculates the rate of strain tensor, S, as defined in equation (11). The elements of Sij are
held in variables ssq and these are added together in sum in order to calculate S. The mixing length, λ, is then
calculated using equation (14). Here, λ0 is defined as in equation (10) and the value of cs can be set in the
ROSE-GUI through the parameter mix factor. Both S and 1/λ2 are passed back out to ATM STEP as visc m
and rneutml sq, respectively. In addition, the maximum diffusion coefficient is calculated in this subroutine and
passed out to ATM STEP .

3.1.2 Horizontal diffusion coefficients

Before the calculation of the viscosity and diffusivity coefficients is complete λ2 and S must be combined and
multiplied by stability functions. The subgrid turbulence scheme uses the same functions as those used in the
boundary layer scheme (see Section 3.1.4) and these are combined with λ2 and S within the boundary layer
scheme in the final step to obtain the viscosity and diffusivity coefficients, ν and νh , as defined in equations (12)
and (13). Since the stability functions are only defined on boundary layer levels (BL LEVELS) this means that
BL LEVELS must be set to one less than the number of model levels (i.e. MODEL LEVELS - 1). The minus one
is due to calculations in which fields from level k+1 are used. The diffusion coefficients on the top two levels of
the domain are set to the values at the MODEL LEVELS-2.

3.1.3 Vertical diffusion coefficients

In the boundary layer scheme the effects of diffusion in the vertical are determined implicitly. The vertical diffu-
sion coefficients are obtained in subroutine KMKH by considering the maximum of the coefficients calculated in
a local and non-local scheme (see UMDP-024 [5]).
Because the coefficients from the Smagorinsky scheme are accessible in the boundary layer scheme, either
the coefficients from the Smagorinsky scheme OR the coefficients from the boundary layer scheme can be
used in the local boundary layer scheme depending on whether the scheme is activated or not in the vertical.
Alternatively, the “blended” scheme combines the two sets of coefficients dependent on the grid and flow length
scales (see UMDP-024 ). Once the coefficients have been “decided” then they are assigned to RHOKM and
RHOKH and used in the implicit solver in the BL scheme. If the vertical scheme is activated without blending
with the boundary layer scheme, RHOKM and RHOKH are overwritten by the coefficients calculated in the
Smagorinsky scheme. The non-local scheme is deactivated if only the 3D subgrid turbulence scheme is used.
The numerical implementation of both the horizontal and vertical diffusion can be seen in Section 3.2.

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Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

3.1.4 Stability functions in the local boundary layer scheme

The local boundary layer scheme uses a first order “mixing length” closure,
 
 ∂u 
Km = L2m  fm (Ri ), (24)
∂z

where Lm and Lh are the neutral mixing lengths as defined in [5] and fm and fh are the Richardson number
dependent stability functions.
The Richardson number, Ri, that is used as a local measure of stability is given by

∆k B/∆k z
Rik+ 21 = , (25)
(∆k u/∆k z)2

where ∆k B is the measure of buoyancy, defined as

 
g
∆k B = g (βT )k− 21 ∆k θl + (βq )k− 12 ∆k qt . (26)

The buoyancy coefficients, βT and βq are defined in [5].

For Ri < 0 the stability functions are defined as

g0 Ri
fm = 1 − (27)
1 + Dm (L̃m /L̃h )|Ri|1/2

g0 Ri
fh = 1 − , (28)
1 + Dh (L̃m /L̃h )|Ri|1/2

where the constants are given by g0 = 10, Dm = g0 /4 and Dh = g0 /25 and L˜m and L˜h are the neutral mixing
lengths incorporating log profile corrections.
For Ri > 0 several forms of the the stability functions have been tested. In the subgrid turbulence scheme the
“long-tailed” functions or those obtained from the SHARPEST scheme have been used.
The “long-tailed” functions are
1
fm = , fh = fm (29)
1 + g0 Ri

and the SHARPEST functions are


1 − 0.5g0 Ri 0 < Ri < 0.1
fm = fh = (30)
(2.0g0 Ri )−1 Ri > 0.1

At UM9.2 many other choices have been added, which can be chosen through the ROSE-GUI. This includes
the use of the stability functions used in the LEM (equations (15) and (16)). The ROSE-GUI help gives details
of all these schemes.

3.1.5 Maximum value for viscosity in New Dynamics

When setting the diffusion coefficients it is crucial to make sure that the choice of value is such that the scheme
remains numerically stable. For New Dynamics, a stability analysis is thus carried out to determine the maximum
values for the coefficient of diffusion which maintains a stable scheme. Full details of this analysis can be found
in the New Dynamics documentation [6] but the basic idea will be described here.
The horizontal diffusion operator for a given scalar, Q, used in the New Dynamics is given by equation (22).
Ideally, Kλ would be chosen to be equal to Kφ , giving a locally isotropic form of diffusion. However, the dif-
fusion operator has an explicit discretisation, i.e. the value of Q used in the operator is that available at the

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Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

θ, q, w (i,j,k)

v(i,j,k)
φ

u(i−1,j,k) u(i,j,k)

Π (i,j,k)
λ

v(i,j−1,k)

θ, q, w (i,j,k−1)

Figure 1: Arrangement of the prognostic fields in the New Dynamics version of the UM. Note, the indexing of
the velocity fields is different if the ENDGame version of the UM is used.

current timestep and so an upper limit of the timestep is required to prevent the scheme becoming numerically
unstable. This is achieved by changing Kλ so that the scheme remains stable. Following the New Dynamics
documentation Section 12.4 it is shown that for the case where Kλ /cos2 φ = Kφ = constant the following must
be respected.

2Kφ ∆t 1
≤ (31)
r2 ∆φ2 2

or, to avoid the numerical solution alternating sign on alternate timesteps, the twice as restrictive criterion

Kφ ∆t 1
2 2
≤ . (32)
r ∆φ 8

The maximum value of the diffusion coefficient is set in the code using equation (32). A value less than this can
be chosen by setting diff factor in the ROSE-GUI accordingly. This parameter is a value between 0 and 1, by
which the maximum diffusion coefficient for numerical stability is multiplied to obtain a maximum value for the
run.
After the coefficients are in the form in equations (12) and (13) they are passed through to the diffusion routine
NI Diff ctl where they are interpolated onto different points ready to be used in the five subroutines that add the
increments due to the diffusion to the θ, q, u, v and w fields.

3.2 Numerical implementation

The arrangement of prognostic fields in the New Dynamics version of the UM is illustrated in Figure 1. The
indexing of both velocity fields is different if the ENDGame version of the UM is used and the reader is referred
to UMDP16 for more details.

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Subgrid Turbulence Scheme

subgrid scheme BL scheme

Ζ
ρ
K=BL_LEVELS BL_LEVELS θ−level

ρBL_LEVELS ρ−level
K=BL_LEVELS

horiz diffusion: diff_coeff_θ2 diff_coeff_centre 2

vert diffusion: Kh
u2 wθ2 Kh 2
2

K=2 ρ−level
horiz: θ Ri Fm Fh S diff_coeff_u diff_coeff_v1
1 1 2 2 1 1
vert: θ Ri Fm Fh S Km
1 2 2 2 2 2 θ1 Km2 uw2 θ−level
K=1
horiz: diff_coeff_θ diff_coeff_centre
1 1
vert: Kh
1 u1 wθ1 Kh 1 ρ−level
K=1

θ0 Km1 uw1 θ−level

Figure 2: Arrangement of the vertical grid structure for the boundary layer and the subgrid turbulence schemes.
The location and indexing of the Richardson number, Ri, stability functions, Fm and Fh, the shear term S and
the diffusion coefficients, Km and Kh , are shown along with the interpolated values of Km and Kh (diff coeff -
u,diff coeff v,diff coeff θ and diff coeff centre) for use in the horizontal diffusion scheme.

The use of the subgrid turbulence scheme alongside the boundary layer scheme is complicated by a difference
in indexing between the schemes. The location and indexing of the various components of the diffusion coeffi-
cients are illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4. As an example, in the subgrid scheme S1 and S2 for the horizontal
and vertical diffusion respectively are actually the same term with a different index.

3.2.1 Horizontal diffusion.

Setting L subfilter horiz to true allows the subgrid turbulence scheme to be activated in the horizontal. This can
be applied over specified levels, the range of which can be set through the parameters turb startlev horiz and
turb endlev horiz in the ROSE-GUI. Due to coding issues, turb startlev horiz must be greater or equal to 2 and
turb endlev horiz must not exceed MODEL LEVELS - 1. The model will stop if these limits are not obeyed.
Once the values of S and λ2 have been calculated in the subroutine T U RB Smagorinsky they are combined
and multiplied by the stability functions from the boundary layer scheme, taking into account the differences in
indexing. A maximum value of diffusion coefficient is then imposed as described in Section 3.1.5
The diffusion coefficients, Km and Kh , are initially calculated on the w-points, and take the form of equations
(12) and (13). They are then interpolated onto the appropriate points for use in the 3D diffusion scheme. Kh
remains on the θ-levels and is interpolated onto the points between the w-points, becoming diff coeff u and
diff coeff v as in Figure 3. These are then used for the diffusion of the scalar fields and w in turb diff th, turb -
diff q and turb diff w. Km is interpolated onto ρ-levels, becoming diff coeff θ and diff coeff centre as in Figure
4, which are then used in the diffusion of u and v velocities in turb diff u and turb diff v. Km is also interpolated
onto the same points as diff coeff u and diff coeff v, becoming w diff coeff u and w diff coeff v, which are used
in the diffusion of w.

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∆λ

∆λ
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1 1
0
0w(i,j+1,k)
1
0
1
w(i−1,j+1,k) diff_coeff_u(i−1,j+1,k)

0
1
0
1 0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
diff_coeff_v(i−1,j,k) diff_coeff_v(i,j,k)
∆φ
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1 1
0
0
1
0
1 0
1
w(i−1,j,k) diff_coeff_u(i−1,j,k) w(i,j,k)
∆φ
0
1
0
1 0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
diff_coeff_u(i−1,j−1,k) diff_coeff_u(i,j−1,k)

0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
Figure 3: Arrangement of vertical velocity, w, and the interpolated values of Kh, (diff coeff u and diff coeff v)
on θ-levels in the New Dynamics version of the UM. Note, the indexing of the velocity fields is different if the
ENDGame version of the UM is used.

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∆λ

∆λ

0
1
0
1
0diff_coeff_θ (i−1,j+1,k)
1
0
1
0
1
diff_coeff_θ (i,j+1,k)

0
1
Π(i−1,j+1,k) u(i−1,j+1,k) Π(i,j+1,k) u(i,j+1,k)

0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
v(i−1,j,k) diff_coeff_centre(i−1,j,k) v(i,j,k) diff_coeff_centre(i,j,k)
∆φ
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1 diff_coeff_θ (i−1,j,k)
0Π(i−1,j,k)
1
diff_coeff_θ (i,j,k)
Π(i,j,k)
0
1
u(i−1,j,k) u(i,j,k)
∆φ
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
v(i−1,j−1,k) diff_coeff_centre(i−1,j−1,k) v(i,j−1,k) diff_coeff_centre(i,j−1,k)

0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
Figure 4: Arrangement of pressure and vertical velocities, u and v, and the interpolated values of Km, (diff -
coeff θ and diff coeff centre) on ρ-levels in the New Dynamics version of the UM. Note, the indexing of the
velocity fields is different if the ENDGame version of the UM is used.

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A summary of the position of the interpolated points can be found in the following table.
model name position
diff coeff u directly above u points, on theta levels: used in diffusion of θ, q
diff coeff v directly above v points, on theta levels: used in diffusion of θ, q
w diff coeff u directly above u points, on theta levels: used in diffusion of w
w diff coeff v directly above v points, on theta levels: used in diffusion of w
diff coeff theta directly below w points, on rho levels: used in diffusion of u,v
diff coeff centre in the centre of the grid box, on rho levels: used in diffusion of u,v

3.2.2 Vertical diffusion

Setting L subfilter vert to true allows the subgrid turbulence scheme to be activated in the vertical. This can
be applied over specified levels, the range of which can be set through the parameters turb startlev vert and
turb endlev vert in the ROSE-GUI. Again, turb startlev vert must be greater or equal to 2 and turb endlev vert
must not exceed MODEL LEVELS - 1.
Due to the differences in indexing between the boundary layer and subgrid turbulence scheme the values of S
and λ2 are calculated in the subroutine T U RB Smagorinsky and passed through to the appropriate levels in
the boundary layer scheme, before being multiplied by the stability functions and limited by a maximum diffusion.
In addition to the options of using the full boundary layer scheme or the subgrid turbulence scheme in the
vertical, a method for blending the two parametrizations has been developed. This is documented in UMDP-024
[5].

3.2.3 Boundaries

As previously described, the subgrid turbulence scheme can only be implemented on MODEL LEVELS-1. Thus
on the top two levels of the domain the diffusion coefficients are equal to the coefficients on MODEL LEVELS -
2.

3.3 Using the subgrid turbulence scheme in the code

The activation of the scheme and the setting of related parameters is done in physics section 13 in the ROSE-
GUI. The scheme is activated in the horizontal and vertical by setting L subfilter horiz and L subfilter vert to true
respectively and parameters turb startlev horiz, turb endlev horiz, turb startlev vert and turb endlev vert can be
used to restrict the scheme to certain levels. The value of diff factor must be between 0 and 1 and mix factor
usually has a value around 0.2. If the scheme is selected without blending with the boundary layer scheme, the
diffusion coefficients are obtained from the Smagorinsky subgrid scheme.
The coefficients calculated by the scheme are interpolated onto the appropriate points and then turb diff u,
turb diff v, turb diff w, turb diff theta and turb diff q are called. (It should be noted here that the u and v fields
are incremented using a form of the usual scalar operator, which is not desirable.)
The variables in the subgrid turbulence scheme, along with their model name, are described in the following
table
variable model name description
Sij 2 x ssq
S visc rate of strain term
λ0 RMLMAX
λ RNEUTML mixing length
k VKMAN von Karman constant
ν visc m viscosity
νh visc h diffusivity
diff factor parameter used in calculation of maximum diffusion
cs mix factor parameter used in calculation of mixing length

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3.4 Code tree

ATMOS PHYSICS1
..
.
If (L subfilter vert or L subfilter horiz) then call
TURB SMAGORINSKY
calculate 1/λ2 and S and
hold in rneutml sq and visc m
..
.
IDL FORCE
..
.
ATMOS PHYSICS2 −→ pass in rneutml sq and visc m
...⇒ BDY LAYR ⇒ BDY EXPL2
visc ∗ = λ2 Sfstab∗
(where ∗ is m or h)
If (blending selected) then
blend diffusion coeffs
Else If (L subfilter vert)
use
RHOKM = visc m
RHOKH = visc h
on specified levels
Else
use BL coeffs
endif
ATM STEP ⇒
DIFFUSION ⇒ DIFF DIVDAMP CTL
If (L DIFF CTL) then
If (L subfilter horiz) then
visc ∗ ≤ max diff
interp diffusion coefficients onto
appropriate points, diff coeff u,
diff coeff v, diff coeff theta
diff coeff centre
call TURB DIFF U
call TURB DIFF V
call TURB DIFF W
call TURB DIFF THETA
call TURB DIFF Q
Endif
Endif
..
.
SOLVER
..
.
END OF TIMESTEP

4 Namelist parameters

The parameters in the table below are relevant to the running of the subgrid scheme in the UM.

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L subfilter horiz =false (default) diffusion coefficients obtained in usual way

(see (6))
=true Horizontal diffusion coefficients are those calculated in
Smagorinsky scheme
L subfilter vert =false (default) diffusion coefficients obtained from BL scheme
(see (6))
=true Diffusion coefficients are those calculated in Smagorinsky scheme,
unless blending with the boundary layer scheme is selected
turb startlev horiz lowest level for horizontal application of
subgrid turbulence scheme (default and minimum = 2)
turb endlev horiz upper level for horizontal application of
subgrid turbulence scheme (default and maximum = model levels - 1)
turb startlev vert lowest level for vertical application of
subgrid turbulence scheme (default and minimum = 2)
turb endlev vert upper level for horizontal application of
subgrid turbulence scheme (default and maximum = model levels - 1)
Fraction of (diff factor) value between 0 and 1 by which the maximum diffusion
maximum diffusion coefficient allowed for numerical stability is multiplied to
obtain maximum value for the run
Mixing length (mix factor) parameter used in calculation of the mixing length
constant (should be about 0.2)

5 References

1. Horizontal turbulent diffusion. Terry Davies

2. UMDP-033 . Running the Unified Model in Idealised Mode. R. Forbes
3. Version 2.3 of the Met Office Large Eddy Model. Part I. User documentation M.E.B.Gray and J. Petch
4. High resolution simulations of flow over orography using the Smagorinsky scheme: Response to problems
identified by Tom Allen. Carol Halliwell and Richard Forbes.
5. UMDP-024 . The Parametrization of Boundary Layer Processes. A. Lock et al.
6. UMDP-015 New Dynamics Formulation. A. Staniforth, A. White, N. Wood, J. Thuburn, M. Zerroukat, E.
Codero, T.Davies

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