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Abstract. Nested boundary techniques are developed based on the results of Perkins [1993] and Blake [1991]. We focus on the numerical and physical consistency needs across the nested boundary. These techniques replace the transition zone used by other researchers with a numerically and a physically based correction step. We demonstrate our method using a nested, reduced gravity version of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) primitive equation ocean model and a two-layer hydrodynamic finite-depth version of the same model. Numerical experiments are performed using integrations of both an idealized double gyre and a realistic Greenland Iceland Norwegian (GIN) Sea configuration. To illustrate the need for improved boundary treatment, we present a numerical study of boundary errors. The study illustrates the fragile nature of nested boundary conditions. With even small errors, a dramatic impact is observed on the formation (or lack thereof) of the Atlantic-Norwegian Current, which is responsible for transporting North Atlantic water to the Arctic Ocean, in the GIN Sea configuration. In this paper we propose an alternative to transition zones based on a numerically and a physically based correction that utilizes the two-sided information available along the internal boundary, providing some support from the entire domain of dependence. Perkins [1993] stressed the two-sided nature of nested domains by viewing the nested model as one overall or aggregate solution. She showed that the "usual" one-sided nesting methodology did not lead, in general, to an aggregate solution that was continuous across the internal boundary. A boundary method that results in values at coincident coarsefine mesh locations being continuously "locked" together as we integrate in time seems attainable, but it cannot be achieved unless we utilize values on both sides of the internal boundary.Ookochi [1972] tried to use information from both sides of the internal boundary to find a nesting scheme that was both continuous (or single valued) and conservative. He concluded that he had to either ignore continuity or conservation; he sacrificed conservation. Among other methods that have utilized two-sided information, Kurihara et al.'s [1979] study enforced energy conservation across the internal boundaries, but they conclude that conservation did not work well for them. Supporting their conclusions, the work of Peggion [1994] indicates that conservation of energy is not appropriate on a nested mesh unless the numerical artifacts introduced where the grid is refined are taken into account. The application of her results would more appropriately be termed energy management, rather than conservation.These numerical artifacts do not effect conservation of mass, however.In this paper we demonstrate numerically some of the errors that can occur when continuity is not maintained. In order to 3483