How does the CM2.1 model differ from the CM2.0 model?

The biggest difference is that the atmospheric component of the two models utilize different dynamical cores. The newer CM2.1 model uses a Finite-Volume (FV) dynamical core, whereas CM2.0 employed a B-grid dynamical core. Also, the ocean component's time stepping scheme and lateral viscosity differ in the two models. Other less dramatic, but still potentially significant, differences exist between the CM2.0 and CM2 atmosphere, ocean, sea ice and land surface component configurations.

For more information, see the preprint of the paper titled GFDL's CM2 global coupled climate models - Part 1: Formulation and simulation characteristics [13 MB pdf].

Questions related to the GFDL CM2.x models may be directed to…