The Ocean Model

Text Box: The model is highly computationally efficient, using a z-level coordinate system in the vertical and then an implicit solution technique to solve for the sea surface anomalies.

· Solves the primitive, non-linear differential equations for the conservation of momentum, mass, heat, salt, turbulence.

· Has a free-surface, and assumes hydrostatic balance in the vertical.

· Solves for the sea surface height field implicitly, which allows for time steps of the order of minutes, not seconds.

· The model uses a curvilinear orthogonal coordinate system to provide high spatial resolution where needed.

· Tidal sea level elevations and phases are specified along the open boundaries of model domain.

· But the open boundary condition is not "clamped": an optimized approach utilizes both tidal heights and energy flux on the open boundary.

· The model uses the sea level gradient and equations of motion to specify the barotropic and the baroclinic velocities along the open boundaries.

· The temperature and salinity equations use an upwind finite difference method, but with an anti-diffusive scheme.

· The long-term mean temperature and salinity is maintained using “nudging” with a 3 hr time parameter (this keeps the mean temperature and salinity from “drifting” over longer simulations).

· The model uses atmospheric forcing for calculating momentum, mass, and heat fluxes at the air-sea interface.

· The model includes the inverted barometer effect.

· The model has a sediment transport and a conservative tracer modeling capability.

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