Production and Analysis of a Southern Ocean State Estimate

• Main Authors: Matthew R. Mazloff, Woods Hole, Oceanographic Institution, Carl Wunsch
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.466.6768; http://darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org:8080/bitstream/handle/1912/1282/msthesis_mazloff.pdf?sequence=1

A modern general circulation model of the Southern Ocean with one-sixth of a degree resolution is optimized to the observed ocean in a weighted least squares sense. Con-vergence toward the state estimate solution is carried out by systematically adjust-ing the control variables (prescribed atmospheric state, initial conditions, and open northern boundary at 24.7oS) using the adjoint method. A cost function compares the model state to data from CTD synoptic sections, hydrographic climatology, satel-lite altimetry, and XBTs. Costs attributed to control variable perturbations ensure a physically realistic solution. An optimized solution is determined by the weights placed on the cost function terms. The state estimation procedure, along with the weights used, is described. A significant result is that the adjoint method is shown to