Modeling Kilometer-scale Air-Sea interactions in Extreme Conditions

With low elevation and high population density, coastal areas are vulnerable to extreme events such as storm surge and flooding. Numerical prediction models are an important tool to mitigate the impacts of these events. However, current generation of coupled climate models are inadequate to represent fine scale air-sea interactions, especially the processes at the kilometer scale. To address this problem, this study leverages the high-resolution Modular Ocean Model version 6 (MOM6) coupled with the System for High-Resolution prediction on Earth-to-Local Domains(SHiELD). In particular, we conduct kilometer-scale resolution coupled simulations that resolve these fine-scale air-sea interactions, using an idealized cyclone for demonstration. The high-resolution approach reveals fine-scale processes and feedback mechanisms that are often missed in coarser models. The coupled MOM6-SHiELD system, tested at different resolutions, provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the air-sea interface during extreme weather events, enhancing prediction accuracy and disaster preparedness.