The impact of ocean tides on a climate model simulation.

• Main Authors: Müller, M., Haak, H., Jungclaus, J., Thomas, M.
• Other Authors: 1.3 Earth System Modelling, 1.0 Geodesy and Remote Sensing, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: 550 - Earth sciences; Labrador Sea; north atlantic current; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_238005

We explicitly include the forcing of ocean tides in a global ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The tidal forcing is deduced from lunisolar ephemerides according to the instantaneous positions of moon and sun. In this real-time approach we consider the complete lunisolar tides of second degree. The OGCM is part of a state-of-the-art climate model which was used for the fourth assessment report simulations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). An ensemble of five IPCC A1B climate scenarios covering the period 1860 to 2059 has been computed. The induced tidal currents affect the ocean circulation by nonlinear interaction and through vertical mixing. The latter is described in the model by a Richardson number dependent mixing term. Thus, mixing depends on the density stratification and the vertical velocity shear. In regions of high tidal velocities the vertical velocity shear is enhanced in the deepest layers induced by bottom friction. Our study focuses on the North Atlantic region, where the highest tidal velocities occur. There, the representation of the present state of the ocean is improved significantly. The tides adjust the pathway of the North Atlantic Current, which leads to improved sea surface temperatures of up to 3 degree in the North Atlantic. Further, the simulation of the deep convection in the Labrador Sea, one of the driving mechanisms of the meridional overturning circulation, becomes more realistic when forcing ocean tides. The modified oceanic dynamics in the North Atlantic have implications for the simulation of the European climate and for the future projection of the sea surface temperature of the North Atlantic. This study reveals that ocean tides are an important component in the simulation of ocean dynamics and are essential for an appropriate simulation of a changing ocean under climate warming conditions.