The Southern Ocean and Its climate in CCSM4

• Published in: Journal of Climate
• Main Authors: Weijer, W, Sloyan, BM, Maltrud, ME, Jeffrey, N, Hecht, MW, Hartin, CA, van Sebille, E, Wainer, I, Landrum, L
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Amer Meteorological Soc 2013
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Oceanography; Physical Oceanography; Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-11-00302.1; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/119655

The newCommunityClimate SystemModel, version 4 (CCSM4), provides a powerful tool to understand andpredict the earths climate system. Several aspects of the SouthernOcean in the CCSM4 are explored, includingthe surface climatology and interannual variability, simulation of key climate water masses (Antarctic BottomWater, Subantarctic Mode Water, and Antarctic Intermediate Water), the transport and structure of theAntarctic Circumpolar Current, and interbasin exchange via the Agulhas and Tasman leakages and at theBrazilMalvinas Confluence. It is found that the CCSM4 has varying degrees of accuracy in the simulationof the climate of the Southern Ocean when compared with observations. This study has identified aspects ofthe model that warrant further analysis that will result in a more comprehensive understanding of oceanatmosphereice dynamics and interactions that control the earths climate and its variability.