nextGEMS: entering the era of kilometer-scale Earth system modeling
Authors: Segura Hans , Pedruzo-Bagazgoitia Xabier , Weiss Philipp , Müller Sebastian K. , Rackow Thomas , Lee Junhong , Dolores-Tesillos Edgar , Benedict Imme , Aengenheyster Matthias , Aguridan Razvan , Arduini Gabriele , Baker Alexander J. , Bao Jiawei , Bastin Swantje , Baulenas Eulàlia , Becker Tobias , Beyer Sebastian , Bockelmann Hendryk , Brüggemann Nils , Brunner Lukas , Cheedela Suvarchal K. , Das Sushant , Denissen Jasper , Dragaud Ian , Dziekan Piotr , Ekblom Madeleine , Engels Jan Frederik , Esch Monika , Forbes Richard , Frauen Claudia , Freischem Lilli , García-Maroto Diego , Geier Philipp , Gierz Paul , González-Cervera Álvaro , Grayson Katherine , Griffith Matthew , Gutjahr Oliver , Haak Helmuth , Hadade Ioan , Haslehner Kerstin , ul Hasson Shabeh , Hegewald Jan , Kluft Lukas , Koldunov Aleksei , Koldunov Nikolay , Kölling Tobias , Koseki Shunya , Kosukhin Sergey , Kousal Josh , Kuma Peter , Kumar Arjun U. , Li Rumeng , Maury Nicolas , Meindl Maximilian , Milinski Sebastian , Mogensen Kristian , Niraula Bimochan , Nowak Jakub , Praturi Divya Sri , Proske Ulrike , Putrasahan Dian , Redler René , Santuy David , Sármány Domokos , Schnur Reiner , Scholz Patrick , Sidorenko Dmitry , Spät Dorian , Sützl Birgit , Takasuka Daisuke , Tompkins Adrian , Uribe Alejandro , Valentini Mirco , Veerman Menno , Voigt Aiko , Warnau Sarah , Wachsmann Fabian , Wacławczyk Marta , Wedi Nils , Wieners Karl-Hermann , Wille Jonathan , Winkler Marius , Wu Yuting , Ziemen Florian , Zimmermann Janos , Bender Frida A.-M. , Bojovic Dragana , Bony Sandrine , Bordoni Simona , Brehmer Patrice , Dengler Marcus , Dutra Emanuel , Faye Saliou , Fischer Erich , van Heerwaarden Chiel , Hohenegger Cathy , Järvinen Heikki , Jochum Markus , Jung Thomas , Jungclaus Johann H. , Keenlyside Noel S. , Klocke Daniel , Konow Heike , Klose Martina , Malinowski Szymon , Martius Olivia , Mauritsen Thorsten , Mellado Juan Pedro , Mieslinger Theresa , Mohino Elsa , Pawłowska Hanna , Peters-von Gehlen Karsten , Sarré Abdoulaye , Sobhani Pajam , Stier Philip , Tuppi Lauri , Vidale Pier Luigi , Sandu Irina , Stevens Bjorn 
Published: February 2025

Abstract. The Next Generation of Earth Modeling Systems (nextGEMS) project aimed to produce multi-decadal climate simulations, for the first time, with resolved kilometer-scale (km-scale) processes in the ocean, land, and atmosphere. In only three years, nextGEMS achieved this milestone with the two km-scale Earth system models, ICOsahedral Non-hydrostatic model (ICON) and Integrated Forecasting System coupled to the Finite-volumE Sea ice-Ocean Model (IFS-FESOM). nextGEMS was based on three cornerstones: 1) developing km-scale Earth system models with small errors in the energy and water balance, 2) performing km-scale climate simulations with a throughput greater than one simulated year per day, and 3) facilitating new workflows for an efficient analysis of the large simulations with common data structures and output variables. These cornerstones shaped the timeline of nextGEMS, divided into four cycles. Each cycle marked the release of a new configuration of ICON and IFS-FESOM, which were evaluated at hackathons. The participants in hackathons included experts from climate science, software engineering, and high-performance computing, as well as users from the energy and agricultural sectors. The continuous efforts over the four cycles allowed us to produce 30-year simulations of ICON and IFS-FESOM, spanning the period 2020–2049 under the SSP3-7.0 scenario. The throughput was about 500 simulated days per day on the Levante supercomputer of the German Climate Computing Center (DKRZ). The simulations employed a horizontal grid of about 5 km resolution in the ocean and 10 km resolution in the atmosphere and land. Aside from this technical achievement, the simulations allowed us to gain new insights into the realism of ICON and IFS-FESOM. Beyond its timeframe, nextGEMS builds the foundation of the Climate Change Adaptation Digital Twin developed in the Destination Earth initiative and paves the way for future European research on climate change.