A two-and-a-half layer upper ocean model: formulation and response to parameter changes
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more Also appears in:Nihoul, J.C.J. (Ed.) (1990). Coupled ocean-atmosphere modeling: proceedings of the 21th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, Liège, May 8-12, 1989. Journal of Marine Systems, 1(1-3). Elsevier Scientific: Amsterdam. 313 pp., more |  |
| Authors | | Top | - Cherniawsky, J.Y.
- Yuen, C.W.
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| Abstract | Results from parameter sensitivity experiments with a limited domain (15–67° N, 65° west to east) coarse-resolution two-and-a-half layer upper ocean model are presented, with an emphasis on sensitivity to horizontal resolution. The model consists of two active variable density layers: a Niiler and Kraus (1977) type mixed layer and a pycnocline layer, overlaying a semi-passive deep ocean. The mixed layer is forced with a cosine wind-stress and Haney type heat and precipitation-evaporation fluxes, which were derived from zonally averaged climatological (Levitus, 1982) surface temperatures and salinities for the North Atlantic. The model is forced from below using (a) Newtonian cooling to climatological temperatures and salinities at the lower boundary, (b) convective adjustment, which occurs whenever the density of the second layer is unstable with respect to this climatology and (c) mass entrainment in areas of strong upwelling, when the deep ocean ventilates through the bottom surface. Their contributions to the meridional heat transport and the sensitivity to different parameter values are discussed. As expected, the model is more sensitive to its horizontal grid-size (Δx, Δy) and the corresponding eddy viscosity coefficient (AM αΔx3) than to other parameters. |
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