How well does a 1/4° global circulation model simulate large-scale oceanic observations?
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Authors
Stammer, Detlef
Tokmakian, Robin
Semtner, Albert
Wunsch, Carl
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
1996-11
Date
November 15, 1996
Publisher
Language
Abstract
Numerical high-resolution ocean general circulation models have
experienced a revolutionary development during the last decade. Today they
are run globally in realistic configuration with realistic surface boundary forcing.
To fully use the results of those models in understanding various aspects of the
ocean general circulation and to combine ocean observations with models (state
estimation) in a manner consistent with the data and model dynamics, stringent
model-data comparisons are a necessary first step. In this paper a quantitative
model-data comparison is carried out for the global Parallel Ocean Climate Model
(POCM), known also as the Serntner and Chervin model, with nominal lateral
resolution of 1/4 ø . The focus is on various aspects of the simulated large-scale
circulation and their relation to the TOPEX/POSEIDON sea surface height (SSH)
observations and World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE) hydrography.
Comparisons are made for (1) the global mean sea surface circulation and absolute
slopes, (2) rms SSH variability and eddy kinetic energy, (3) the simulation of the
observed seasonal cycle in SSH, (4) two-dimensional frequency-wavenumber spectra
of the large-scale fluctuations, as well as (5) the hydrography for WOCE sections.
R. ecent improvements in external surface forcing fields including daily wind-stress
fields and sea surface heat fluxes lead to a significant improvement in the overall
agreement of the simulated and observed large-scale mean circulation and its
variability. However, simulated amplitudes of variability remain low by about a
factor of 2 to 4 over a broad spectral range, including the long wavelengths and
periods. Both the causes and consequences of this low variability remain obscure.
Type
Article
Description
Paper number 96JC01754
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
C.K. Merril helped with some related early computations. Part of this work (D.S. and C.W.) is supported by contract 958125 with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and grant NAGW-918 with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Naval Postgraduate School's global modeling effort (R.T. and B.S.) is funded by the Department of Energy's Office of Health and Environmental Research under CHAMMP (Computer Hardware, Advanced Mathematics, Model Physics) and by the National Science Foundation's Physical Oceanography Program under WOCE. Computational resources for simulations were provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Contribution to the World Ocean Circulation Experiment.
Format
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 101, No. C10, pp. 25,779-25,811, November 15, 1996.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.