A k-distribution-based radiation code and its computational optimization for an atmospheric general circulation model

The gas absorption process scheme in the broadband radiative transfer code “mstrn8”, which is used to calculate atmospheric radiative transfer efficiently in a general circulation model, is improved. Three major improvements are made. The first is an update of the database of line absorption parameters and the continuum absorption model. The second is a change to the definition of the selection rule for gas absorption used to choose which absorption bands to include. The last is an upgrade of the optimization method used to decrease the number of quadrature points used for numerical integration in the correlated k-distribution approach, thereby realizing higher computational efficiency without losing accuracy. The new radiation package termed “mstrnX” computes radiation fluxes and heating rates with errors less than 0.6 W/m2 and 0.3 K/day, respectively, through the troposphere and the lower stratosphere for any standard AFGL atmospheres. A serious cold bias problem of an atmospheric general circulation model using the ancestor code “mstrn8” is almost solved by the upgrade to “mstrnX”.