Evaluation of a Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model (FESOM) set-up to study the interannual to decadal variability in the deep-water formation rates

Scholz, Patrick; Lohmann, Gerrit; Wang, Qiang; Danilov, Sergey

doi:10.1007/s10236-012-0590-0

Cited by 27 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…Finally, in contrast to the earlier development phase when our focus was mostly on the numerical core, more attention is paid to verifying parameterizations and evaluating global models (Sidorenko et al, 2011;X. Wang et al, 2012;Scholz et al, 2013). Although the development of FESOM has reached a milestone, much research is still required on the route of our model development as outlined along the discussions in Sect.…”

Section: Appendix a Overview On The Development History Of Fesommentioning

confidence: 99%

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

et al. 2014

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Abstract. The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FE-SOM) is the first global ocean general circulation model based on unstructured-mesh methods that has been developed for the purpose of climate research. The advantage of unstructured-mesh models is their flexible multi-resolution modelling functionality. In this study, an overview of the main features of FESOM will be given; based on sensitivity experiments a number of specific parameter choices will be explained; and directions of future developments will be outlined. It is argued that FESOM is sufficiently mature to explore the benefits of multi-resolution climate modelling and that its applications will provide information useful for the advancement of climate modelling on unstructured meshes.

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Section: Appendix a Overview On The Development History Of Fesommentioning

confidence: 99%

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

et al. 2014

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“…On the mesh, the resolution can vary in space conveniently according to given functions chosen for particular applications. Many ocean process studies have been carried out making use of FESOM in global and regional simulations, for example, with focus on overflows , ice shelf cavities (Timmermann et al, 2012), deep water formation (Scholz et al, 2013), polynyas (Haid and Timmermann, 2013), and Arctic sea ice and ocean dynamics (Wekerle et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2016c;Wekerle et al, 2017b). In global ocean climate simulations, the value of unstructured meshes can be more outstanding.…”

Section: Unstructured-mesh Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 4.5 km resolution Arctic Ocean simulation with the global multi-resolution model FESOM 1.4

et al. 2018

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Abstract. In the framework of developing a global modeling system which can facilitate modeling studies on Arctic Ocean and high-to midlatitude linkage, we evaluate the Arctic Ocean simulated by the multi-resolution Finite Element Sea ice-Ocean Model (FESOM). To explore the value of using high horizontal resolution for Arctic Ocean modeling, we use two global meshes differing in the horizontal resolution only in the Arctic Ocean (24 km vs. 4.5 km). The high resolution significantly improves the model's representation of the Arctic Ocean. The most pronounced improvement is in the Arctic intermediate layer, in terms of both Atlantic Water (AW) mean state and variability. The deepening and thickening bias of the AW layer, a common issue found in coarse-resolution simulations, is significantly alleviated by using higher resolution. The topographic steering of the AW is stronger and the seasonal and interannual temperature variability along the ocean bottom topography is enhanced in the high-resolution simulation. The high resolution also improves the ocean surface circulation, mainly through a better representation of the narrow straits in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA). The representation of CAA throughflow not only influences the release of water masses through the other gateways but also the circulation pathways inside the Arctic Ocean. However, the mean state and variability of Arctic freshwater content and the variability of freshwater transport through the Arctic gateways appear not to be very sensitive to the increase in resolution employed here. By highlighting the issues that are independent of model resolution, we address that other efforts including the improvement of parameterizations are still required.

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“…Scholz et al . [] evaluated such a model setup in reproducing a reliable sea ice distribution by comparing it to observational satellite data. They further compared modeled and observed vertical profiles at the position of ocean weather station Bravo and Charlie and pointed out that the model performs well in areas with high resolutions, while in coarser resolved areas the model shows some deviations from the observed profiles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Labrador Sea Water formation in a global Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model setup, based on a comparison with observational data

Scholz

Kieke

Lohmann

et al. 2014

J. Geophys. Res. Oceans

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The deep water formation in the Labrador Sea is simulated with the Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model (FESOM) in a regionally focused, but globally covered model setup. The model has a regional resolution of up to 7 km, and the simulations cover the time period . We evaluate the capability of the model setup to reproduce a realistic deep water formation in the Labrador Sea. Two classes of modeled Labrador Sea Water (LSW), the lighter upper LSW (uLSW) and the denser deep LSW (dLSW), are analyzed. Their layer thicknesses are compared to uLSW and dLSW layer thicknesses derived from observations in the formation region for the time interval 1988-2009. The results indicate a suitable agreement between the modeled and observational derived uLSW and dLSW layer thicknesses except for the period [2003][2004][2005][2006][2007] where deviations in the modeled and observational derived layer thicknesses could be linked to discrepancies in the atmospheric forcing of the model. It is shown that the model is able to reproduce four phases in the temporal evolution of the potential density, temperature, and salinity, since the late 1980s, which are known in observational data. These four phases are characterized by a significantly different LSW formation. The first phase from 1988 to 1990 is characterized in the model by a fast increase in the convection depth of up to 2000 m, accompanied by an increased spring production of deep Labrador Sea Water (dLSW). In the second phase (1991)(1992)(1993)(1994), the dLSW layer thickness remains on a high level for several years, while the third phase (1995-1998) features a gradual decrease in the deep ventilation and the renewal of the deep ocean layers. The fourth phase from 1999 to 2009 is characterized by a slowly continuing decrease of the dLSW layer thickness on a deeper depth level. By applying a composite map analysis between an index of dLSW and sea level pressure over the entire simulation period from 1958 to 2009, it is shown that a pattern which resembles the structure of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is one of the main triggers for the variability of LSW formation. Our model results indicate that the process of dLSW formation can act as a low-pass filter to the atmospheric forcing, so that only persistent NAO events have an effect, whether uLSW or dLSW is formed. Based on composite maps of the thermal and haline contributions to the surface density flux we can demonstrate that the central Labrador Sea in the model is dominated by the thermal contributions of the surface density flux, while the haline contributions are stronger over the branch of the Labrador Sea boundary current system (LSBCS), where they are dominated by the haline contributions of sea ice melting and formation. Our model results feature a shielding of the central Labrador Sea from the haline contributions by the LSBCS, which only allows a minor haline interaction with the central Labrador Sea by lateral mixing. Based on the comparison of the simulated and measured LSW layer thicknesses as well...

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Evaluation of a Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model (FESOM) set-up to study the interannual to decadal variability in the deep-water formation rates

Cited by 27 publications

References 51 publications

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

A 4.5 km resolution Arctic Ocean simulation with the global multi-resolution model FESOM 1.4

Evaluation of Labrador Sea Water formation in a global Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model setup, based on a comparison with observational data

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Evaluation of a Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model (FESOM) set-up to study the interannual to decadal variability in the deep-water formation rates

Cited by 27 publications

References 51 publications

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

The Finite Element Sea Ice-Ocean Model (FESOM) v.1.4: formulation of an ocean general circulation model

A 4.5 km resolution Arctic Ocean simulation with the global multi-resolution model FESOM 1.4

Evaluation of Labrador Sea Water formation in a global Finite-Element Sea-Ice Ocean Model setup, based on a comparison with observational data

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A 4.5 km resolution Arctic Ocean simulation with the global multi-resolution model FESOM 1.4