Mathematical Modeling in Studies of Arctic Ocean Circulation

• Main Authors: Doronin, N. Yu, Proshutinsky, A. Yu
• Other Authors: ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC RESEARCH INST LENINGRAD (USSR)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1992
• Subjects: Atmospheric Physics; Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Test Facilities; Equipment and Methods; *CIRCULATION; *MATHEMATICAL MODELS; *OCEAN MODELS; ARCTIC OCEAN; ATMOSPHERICS; BAROMETRIC PRESSURE; CYCLES; DENSITY; DEPTH; DRIFT; EQUATIONS; ESTIMATES; ICE; MODELS; OCEANS; OSCILLATION; RIVERS; RUNOFF; SEA LEVEL; STRATIFICATION; THREE DIMENSIONAL; VELOCITY; WATER; WIND; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; *Global climate change; Component Reports; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Fairbanks; Climate change; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADP007304; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADP007304

A hierarchy of mathematical models adapted to certain physical phenomena of the Arctic Ocean has been developed. The density structure of the Arctic Ocean water is characterized by a well-marked stratification. This allows us to describe it by means of models with a discrete stratification. In this context a two dimensional model of the upper 200 m of the ocean can be considered as the lowest level of a hierarchy of models. With the help of this model, coupled with the ice drift model, seasonal oscillations of sea level, and variability of barotropic water circulation in the annual cycle, affected by wind, atmospheric pressure, and river runoff, were studied. The same model is used to successfully predict level oscillations and ice drift up to 6 days in advance. The multi-layer models are suggested as models of the second level. For example, energy concentration in the upper layer of the ocean, the main property of baroclinicity, is well simulated in the two-layer version. The advantage of these models as compared with those of the first level, is that the depth of the interface is given as a solution. The diagnostic two-layer model is quite simple to use on small computers. The prognostic two-layer model allows one to estimate the time when the water circulation becomes stationary in the ocean of real depth. The diagnostic three-dimensional ocean model with a continuous stratification is suggested as the third level model. The elliptical equation relative to denivelation of the free surface is the governing equation of the model. The estimation of the terms of the motion and continuity equations indicates the need to introduce geostrophic corrections for non-linear effects and a horizontal turbulent exchange when calculating vertical current velocity. This article is from 'Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change Held in Fairbanks, Alaska on 11-15 June 1990. Volume 1', AD-A253 027, p310-316. See also Volume 2, AD-A253 028.