Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system
The fidelity of numerical simulations of the general circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean in basin- to global-scale models have improved considerably in the last several years. This improvement appears to represent a regime shift in the dynamics of the simulated flow as the horizontal grid spacin...
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Elsevier Ltd.
2007
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Online Access: | http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-004-157 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 |
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ftncar:oai:drupal-site.org:articles_6833 2023-10-01T03:57:42+02:00 Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system Bryan, Frank (author) Hecht, Matthew (author) Smith, Richard (author) 2007-01-01 http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-004-157 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 en eng Elsevier Ltd. Ocean Modelling http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-004-157 doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 ark:/85065/d7hm58qm Copyright 2007 Elsevier. Model simulations Rossby radius Text article 2007 ftncar https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 2023-09-04T18:27:50Z The fidelity of numerical simulations of the general circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean in basin- to global-scale models have improved considerably in the last several years. This improvement appears to represent a regime shift in the dynamics of the simulated flow as the horizontal grid spacing decreases to around 10 km. Nevertheless, some significant biases in the simulated circulation and substantial uncertainties about the robustness of these results with respect to parameterization choices remain. A growing collection of simulations obtained with the POP primitive equation model allow us to investigate the convergence properties and sensitivity of high resolution numerical simulations of the North Atlantic, with particular attention given to Gulf Stream separation and the subsequent path of the North Atlantic Current into the Northwest Corner. Increases in resolution and reductions in dissipation both contribute to the improvements in the circulation seen in recent studies. We find that our highest resolution eddy-resolving simulations retain an appreciable sensitivity to the closure scheme. Our most realistic simulations of the Gulf Stream are not obtained at the lowest levels of dissipation, while the simulation of the North Atlantic Current continues to improve as dissipation is reduced to near the numerical stability limit. In consequence, there is a limited range of parameter space where both aspects of the simulated circulation can be brought into agreement with observations. This experience gained with the comparatively affordable regional North Atlantic model is now being used to configure the next generation of ocean climate models. Article in Journal/Newspaper north atlantic current North Atlantic OpenSky (NCAR/UCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) Ocean Modelling 16 3-4 141 159 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
OpenSky (NCAR/UCAR - National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) |
op_collection_id |
ftncar |
language |
English |
topic |
Model simulations Rossby radius |
spellingShingle |
Model simulations Rossby radius Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system |
topic_facet |
Model simulations Rossby radius |
description |
The fidelity of numerical simulations of the general circulation of the North Atlantic Ocean in basin- to global-scale models have improved considerably in the last several years. This improvement appears to represent a regime shift in the dynamics of the simulated flow as the horizontal grid spacing decreases to around 10 km. Nevertheless, some significant biases in the simulated circulation and substantial uncertainties about the robustness of these results with respect to parameterization choices remain. A growing collection of simulations obtained with the POP primitive equation model allow us to investigate the convergence properties and sensitivity of high resolution numerical simulations of the North Atlantic, with particular attention given to Gulf Stream separation and the subsequent path of the North Atlantic Current into the Northwest Corner. Increases in resolution and reductions in dissipation both contribute to the improvements in the circulation seen in recent studies. We find that our highest resolution eddy-resolving simulations retain an appreciable sensitivity to the closure scheme. Our most realistic simulations of the Gulf Stream are not obtained at the lowest levels of dissipation, while the simulation of the North Atlantic Current continues to improve as dissipation is reduced to near the numerical stability limit. In consequence, there is a limited range of parameter space where both aspects of the simulated circulation can be brought into agreement with observations. This experience gained with the comparatively affordable regional North Atlantic model is now being used to configure the next generation of ocean climate models. |
author2 |
Bryan, Frank (author) Hecht, Matthew (author) Smith, Richard (author) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
title |
Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system |
title_short |
Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system |
title_full |
Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system |
title_fullStr |
Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system |
title_full_unstemmed |
Resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with North Atlantic circulation models. Part I: The western boundary current system |
title_sort |
resolution convergence and sensitivity studies with north atlantic circulation models. part i: the western boundary current system |
publisher |
Elsevier Ltd. |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-004-157 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 |
genre |
north atlantic current North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
north atlantic current North Atlantic |
op_relation |
Ocean Modelling http://nldr.library.ucar.edu/repository/collections/OSGC-000-000-004-157 doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 ark:/85065/d7hm58qm |
op_rights |
Copyright 2007 Elsevier. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2006.08.005 |
container_title |
Ocean Modelling |
container_volume |
16 |
container_issue |
3-4 |
container_start_page |
141 |
op_container_end_page |
159 |
_version_ |
1778529663089377280 |