The Flexible Ocean and Climate Infrastructure Version 1 (FOCI1): Mean State and Variability

• Main Authors: Matthes, Katja, Biastoch, Arne, Wahl, Sebastian, Harlaß, Jan, Martin, Torge, Brücher, Tim, Drews, Annika, Ehlert, Dana, Getzlaff, Klaus, Krüger, Fritz, Rath, Willi, Scheinert, Markus, Schwarzkopf, Franziska U., Bayr, Tobias, Schmidt, Hauke, Park, Wonsun
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications (EGU) 2020
• Subjects: Ocean acidification; Sea ice
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/48644/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/48644/7/gmd-13-2533-2020.pdf; https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2019-306; https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-2533-2020

A new Earth system model, the Flexible Ocean and Climate Infrastructure (FOCI), is introduced. A first version of FOCI consists of a global high-top atmosphere (ECHAM6.3) and an ocean model (NEMO3.6) as well as sea ice (LIM2) and land surface model components (JSBACH), which are coupled through the OASIS3-MCT software package. FOCI includes a number of optional modules which can be activated depending on the scientific question of interest. In the atmosphere, interactive stratospheric chemistry can be used (ECHAM6-HAMMOZ) to study, for example, the effects of the ozone hole on the climate system. In the ocean, a biogeochemistry model (MOPS) is available to study the global carbon cycle. A unique feature of FOCI is the ability to explicitly resolve mesoscale ocean eddies in specific regions. This is realized in the ocean through nesting; first examples for the Agulhas Current and the Gulf Stream systems are described here. FOCI therefore bridges the gap between coarse-resolution climate models and global high-resolution weather prediction and ocean-only models. It allows to study the evolution of the climate system on regional and seasonal to (multi-) decadal scales. The development of FOCI resulted from a combination of the long-standing expertise in ocean and climate modeling in several research units and divisions at GEOMAR. FOCI will thus be used to complement and interpret long-term observations in the Atlantic, enhance the process understanding of the role of mesoscale oceanic eddies for large-scale oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns, study feedback mechanisms with stratospheric processes, estimate future ocean acidification, improve the simulation of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation changes and their influence on climate, ocean chemistry and biology. In this paper we present both the scientific vision for the development of FOCI as well as some technical details. This includes a first validation of the different model components using several configurations of FOCI. Results show ...