Numerical Case Studies for Oceanic Thermal Anomalies with a Dynamic Model,
Abstract
Numerical investigations to identify the physical processes responsible for the generation, evolution, and dissipation of oceanic thermal anomalies (OTA) were carried out using the numerical dynamic model of the North Pacific Experiment (NORPAX). The NORPAX model is based on time-integrations of the finite-difference forms of the primitive equations. It possesses an actual coastal configuration and 10 vertical layers, with a constant maximum depth of 4 km. The horizontal grid spacing, both longitudinal and latitudinal, is 2.5 deg. The seasonally varying model climatology is generated by integrating the model over 80 years of simulations under the climatological atmospheric forcing with the last 20 years varying with the seasonal cycle. Large-scale features of the model ocean climatology compare favorably with observed large-scale motions and structure in the North Pacific Ocean. The model is used for oceanic thermal anomaly studies. Two simulated cases are presented: one demonstrates the generation and evolution of OTA's under anomalous atmospheric wind forcing of winter 1949-50, and the other portrays the evolution and dissipation of the OTA's under climatological atmospheric conditions in winter 1971-72.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA072587
Entities
People
- Joseph Chi Kan Huang
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration