High performance computing simulation of planetary atmospheres

Abstract

The current software for planetary atmosphere simulations, at the moment of writing this thesis, is limited to a Shallow-Water mono-layer model. This document presents the multi-layer model in isopycnical coordinates with topography implementation, as well as its numerical integration in the new SA3 code environment developed by the research group TUAREG. A series of benchmark cases is provided for verification purposes of the model. Then, a set of study cases on storms in Saturn and the Great Red Spot in Jupiter are described with the intention understanding planetary atmospheres phenomenology. Additionally, given the capabilities of the software, a research study of orographic waves generated by the Amsterdam Island is displayed.