Numerical convergence of hot-Jupiter atmospheric flow solutions

ABSTRACT We perform an extensive study of numerical convergence for hot-Jupiter atmospheric flow solutions in simulations employing a setup commonly used extrasolar planet studies – resting state thermally forced to prescribed temperature distribution on short time-scale at high altitudes. Convergence is assessed rigorously with (i) highly accurate pseudospectral model that has been explicitly verified well under conditions and (ii) comparisons the kinetic energy spectra, instantaneous (unaveraged) vorticity fields temporal evolutions field from are numerically equatable. In simulations, (horizontal as vertical) resolution, dissipation operator order, viscosity coefficient varied identical physical initial setups. All compared against fiducial reference simulation horizontal resolution order (T682 ? 16, respectively) each other. Broadly, solution features dynamic, zonally (east–west) asymmetric jet copious amount small-scale vortices gravity waves. Here, we show converge only T341 16 order. Below this either do not or unphysical solutions. The general behaviour independent vertical range atmosphere modelled, $\sim 2 \times 10^{-3}$MPa 10^1$ MPa. Ramifications current modelling observations discussed.