We present a high-order finite-volume approach for solving the shallow-water
equations on the sphere, using multiblock grids on the cubed sphere. This approach
combines a Runge–Kutta time discretization with a fourth-order-accurate spatial
discretization and includes adaptive mesh refinement and refinement in time. Results
of tests show fourth-order convergence for the shallow-water equations as well as for
advection in a highly deformational flow. Hierarchical adaptive mesh refinement
allows solution error to be achieved that is comparable to that obtained with uniform
resolution of the most refined level of the hierarchy but with many fewer
operations.