CLIVAR Project

Study of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation in a highly efficient global ocean-atmosphere model
Progress Report,  February 2000

The MOM 3 ocean model has been implemented in three global configurations with 2 degree, 4 degree and 5 degree resolution. Preliminary ocean circulation results are shown in Fig. 1.
 
Figure 1. Velocities in the global ocean model in ca. 2,000 m depth, in cm/s. Model resolution is 2°x2° with 24 vertical levels.

The CLIO sea ice model has been coupled to MOM and is currently being tested. Preliminary results are presented in Fig. 2.
 

Figure 2. Upper (lower) panel: Simulated January (July) monthly mean sea ice thickness (in m) and velocity (in m/s) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere after 250 years of integration. Resolution 4°x4°.

Coupling of MOM/CLIO with the POTSDAM-2 atmosphere module is underway.

References

Ganopolski, A., V. Petoukhov, S. Rahmstorf, V. Brovkin, M. Claussen and C. Kubatzki, 2000: CLIMBER-2: A climate system model of intermediate complexity. Part II: Model sensitivity. Clim. Dyn., in press.

Petoukhov, V., A. Ganopolski, V. Brovkin, M. Claussen, A. Eliseev, C. Kubatzki and S. Rahmstorf, 2000: CLIMBER-2: A climate system model of intermediate complexity. Part I: Model description and performance for present climate. Clim. Dyn., 16, 1-17.