Implementing ICON in TSMP – Coupling strategy and applications

The ever increasing computational resources are leading to a refinement of grid spacing of atmospheric models as well as the possibility of large eddy simulation for real data applications. Thus, the land surface with its multi-scale heterogeneity related to e.g. land cover and soil moisture gains in importance in atmospheric modeling. The Terrestrial System Modeling Platform (TSMP) is a scale-consistent, highly modular fully integrated soil-vegetation-atmosphere modeling system for regional earth system modeling. TSMP is composed of an atmospheric model (ICON, COSMO), a land surface model (NCAR Community Land Model - CLM), and a subsurface flow model (ParFlow) coupled together using the OASIS3-MCT coupler. The model components can be configured to run standalone or coupled in various configurations and with different grid spacings for each model component. TSMP can be applied at scales ranging from field-scale to continental scale.In TSMP, we incorporated the numerical weather prediction and large eddy mode of the atmospheric numerical model ICON, developed by the German Weather Service (DWD) and Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology. Here, we present an overview about the development strategy along with technical and performance aspects arising from the coupling process. We provide insights in the boundary layer development originating from an improved physical treatment of the land surface as well as the 3D water transport in the (sub)surface model