...
- ESMF = ESMF Regridder, supports aave, bilinear and patchmap options.
- Tempest = TempestRemap
TempestRemap has several new algorithms with native support for spectral element meshes. These algorithms may eventually be implemented in ESMF, so below when we mention TempestRemap, we are referring to the algorithm, not the tool used to compute the maps. For spectral element source meshes, Tempest conserve (non-monotone) is the most accurate map available and is suitable for upscaling and downscaling. It is a good replacement for ESMF bilinear and patchmap options. Tempest conserve+monotone is a potential replacement for ESMF aave maps, but it has two issues that must be resolved before it should be used: (1) consistent reference element map between HOMME and TempestRemap, and (2) element-scale artifacts that show up in the land mask defined on the atmosphere grid. These issues are being worked on under the SciDAC Multiscale project.
Domain files (from Mariana): "Domain files specify the grid and mask for all of the data models and also for CLM. CLM uses a global surface dataset where it assumes land everywhere - so where there is ocean it assumes wetland. It then uses the domain.lnd.xxx.nc file to determine its land mask (which is really the ocean land mask mapped to the land grid). By this mechanism you do not need different surface datasets when the land mask is changed (which used to be the case a few years ago).
...