Modelling the Circulation of Hot exoplanet Atmospheres (MOCHA): exhaustive comparison of 3D models for hot Jupiters

With the first exoplanet JWST and Cheops data available, and ARIEL in the near future, we are expecting to get a lot of time-varying measurements of exoplanets (e.g. phase curves and 3D eclipse maps), giving us unprecedented information about their climate. Hot Jupiters will be the best targets for  atmosphere characterisation with these facilities.   3D atmospheric circulation models are the main tools to interpret theoretically these upcoming observations, however, it is overwhelming to compare the numerous models developed independently with each various assumptions and setup. Some characteristics of their outputs are then dependent on the model used, impairing physical interpretation. It is therefore necessary to assess the differences, limits and applicability of each models in a controlled manner.   We present MOCHA (Modelling the Circulation of Hot exoplanet Atmospheres), the most extensive intercomparision of hot Jupiter 3D circulation models. Our team is built from the experts developing all available codes,  in order to set up a common benchmark methodology. Our intercomparison project will provide the exoplanet community with protocols and methods to benchmark current and future 3D models. This will lead to better and more robust tools to retrieve physical information from JWST, Cheops, and later ARIEL data.   This project is part of CUISINES (Climates Using Interactive Suites of Intercomparisons Nested for Exoplanet Studies), which has already provided Model Intercomparisons Projects (MIPS) such as THAI for the TRAPPIST planets and CAMEMBERT for mini Neptunes.