What is Required to Model the Global Ocean Circulation?
Abstract
Simulating and forecasting the circulation of the global ocean is a difficult task. The present generation of high-resolution ocean circulation models, with horizontal resolution of ~1/10, appears to be deficient in kinetic energy when compared with long-term observations. A series of near-twin experiments, using the global HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) with identical atmospheric forcing, but varying in horizontal resolution and assimilation of altimetric steric height anomalies, show significant improvement with a better representation of mesoscale eddies when compared to observations. For a 1/12.5 (~9 km) global model, the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) at the surface and abyss is low by ~21% and ~24%, respectively, compared to surface drifting buoys and deep current meters. Increasing the model resolution to 1/25 (~4.4 km) or injecting mesoscale eddies through the assimilation of surface observations in a 1/12.5 model increases the surface and abyssal EKE to levels consistent with observations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA562885
Entities
People
- Alan J. Wallcraft
- James G. Richman
- Patrick J. Hogan
- Prasad G. Thoppil
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory