CAM-CHEM chemical species output settings

[sjsprecious@gmail_com]

Dear all, I'm running the CAM-CHEM simulation using the scenario B_2000_TROP_MOZART. It compiles and runs smoothly. However, I check the output file and most chemical species are named as "XXX_SRF", which only contains the bottom layer values. The meteorlogy data like T and wind speed all has the lev dimension. So can anyone tell me what is the option I should use to output the concentration of chemical species for different levels (i.e. plev = 26)? Thank you. Jian

 

[eaton]

All variables available to be output to a history file are listed in the cam output log under a header that looks like "******* MASTER FIELD LIST *******".  If you see a variable "XXX_SRF" then there is probably also a variable "XXX" which is the 3D version of the field.  If this variable isn't output by default then you can add it via the fincl1 (or similar) namelist variable.

 

[sjsprecious@gmail_com]

Dear Eaton, Thanks for your reply. It works by adding "XXX" in the fincl1 namelist variable but it may not be efficient if I want to change the whole species output with "_SRF" as suffix. Is there any option in the namelist variable that I can turn off the "xxx_srf" output and export the 3D version directly? Thank you. Jian

 

[eaton]

The use of fincl* and fexcl* namelist variables is the only way to modify the history files exactly as you've asked.  From looking at the code (in mo_chm_diags.F90) it appears that setting history_aerosol=.true. will also result in adding the 3D species to the history, but it will add a lot of other variables as well, and will not remove the 'xxx_srf' variables.  You can also do what you want with the appropriate code modification in the chm_diags_inti subroutine. 

 

[sjsprecious@gmail_com]

Dear Eaton,Thanks for your detailed reply. I just wonder why the chemistry output is designed like this, just writing out the first layer result. Save space? Thanks,Jian

 

[eaton]

There are always compromises being made between saving space and outputting all the fields that might be wanted by someone.  Typically the scientists will decide what fields to output by default based on what is most useful for their evaluation of the simulation.  I don't know the details of why this specific set of output fields was chosen.