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An analysis of results of a high-resolution world ocean circulation model

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Results of a highly vectorized and multitasked model of the world ocean circulation were analyzed. This model which uses realistic physics, geometry, and forcing on a high-resolution grid, was run on the NCAR Cray X-MP/48 using a robust-diagnostic strategy. Twenty years of model integration using one-half degree horizontal resolution and 20 levels of vertical resolution were accomplished after 200 wall-clock hours at a maximum FORTRAN performance speed of 450 megaflops. Seven key regions of the world ocean were analyzed using an ocean model processor. A representation of the global ocean circulation emerged that compared well with observations and that included strong advective features, fronts, and subtropical meanders. A diagnostic analysis program was developed to analyze meridional heat and volume transports. The results in all basins appear to be reasonable when compared to the results of other studies. For example, an anomalous northward heat transport of 3.8 x 10 to the 14th power W at 30 deg in the South Atlantic compares favorably with the estimate of 4.2 x 10 to the 14th power W at 32 deg S by Bennett (1978) using hydrographic data. The results of simulations conducted in this study can be compared and contrasted against the results of future eddy-resolving simulations. Keywords: Digital simulation, Advection, Heat transport, Meridional volume transport, Oceanographic fronts, Meanders, Thermoclines, Finite difference analysis. Theses. (EDC) / http://archive.org/details/analysisofresult00bart / Lieutenant Commander, United States Naval Reserve

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/22897
Date03 1900
CreatorsBarton, Wesley A.
ContributorsSemtner, Albert J., Smith, D.C.
PublisherMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Source SetsNaval Postgraduate School
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatapplication/pdf
RightsThis publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

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