ExoCubed: A Riemann-solver-based Cubed-sphere Dynamic Core for Planetary Atmospheres

Abstract

Abstract The computational fluid dynamics on a sphere is relevant to global simulations of geophysical fluid dynamics. Using the conventional spherical–polar (or lat–lon) grid results in a singularity at the poles, with orders-of-magnitude-smaller cell sizes at the poles in comparison to the equator. To address this problem, we developed a general circulation model (dynamic core) with a gnomonic equiangular cubed-sphere configuration. This model is developed based on the Simulating Nonhydrostatic Atmospheres on Planets model, using a finite-volume numerical scheme with a Riemann-solver-based dynamic core and the vertical implicit correction scheme. This change of the horizontal configuration gives a 20-time acceleration of global simulations compared to the lat–lon grid with a similar number of cells at medium resolution. We presented standard tests ranging from 2D shallow-water models to 3D general circulation tests, including Earth-like planets and shallow hot Jupiters, to validate the accuracy of the model. The method described in this article is generic to transform any existing finite-volume hydrodynamic model in the Cartesian geometry to the spherical geometry.