What is nextGEMS doing right now?

nextGEMS is currently simulating the climate at resolutions never seen before to improve two existing models: ICON and IFS. At the moment, the collaborative project funded by the European Union is entering into its application phase. Here, the efforts are focused in the preparation of the high resolution climate simulations. The advancement of these simulations has been possible through three hackathons organized in different parts of Europe, where the community and a diverse range of experts were able to cooperate together.

Since the project is directed towards advancing climate models to an unprecedented level of granularity or detail, scientists have already been surprised by what they are able to see through storm-resolving models, says Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology Bjorn Stevens. Phenomena like how the precipitation develops over the Pacific Ocean; how tropical storms lead the ocean to pulsate; or the ways land and the deep soil equilibrate, are some of the discoveries Stevens highlights.

Furthermore, an important part of the current stage of nextGEMS is the development of new workflows that will allow the team to deal with the enormous amount of data the models generate. The progress currently being done within that aspect of the project has allowed nextGEMS to build up an energetic and increasing new community, according to Bjorn Stevens.

If you are interested in finding out more details about what nextGEMS is doing at the moment, don’t forget to check out our interview with Bjorn Stevens!