Intermediate General Circulation Model
The Reading Intermediate General Circulation Model (IGCM), is a Global climate model, which is continuously developed by members of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, and by members of the [www.meteo.mcgill.ca/bourqui/ Stratospheric Dynamics and Chemistry Group] of the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at McGill University
The IGCM is a fast GCM based on the primitive-equations baroclinic model of Hoskins and Simmons, which has been converted to run on workstations. Several versions have been developed with representations of the physics.
- IGCM1: Portable version of the original spectral dry baroclinic model formulated in sigma-levels, with an option for Newtonian relaxation and Rayleigh friction, no surface.
- IGCM2: Includes simplified moist parameterisations, a cheap "radiation scheme" (ie constant tropospheric cooling), a bulk formulation scheme for the boundary layer, fixed surface temperatures and humidity, a uniform vertical diffusion, and can advect tracers.
- IGCM3x: Intermediate climate model which includes more sophisticated moist / clouds parameterisations, a radiation scheme with various gas absorbers, and a more realistic surface with an orography and land, sea surface schemes.